As USA Baseball made the dramatic announcement that New York Yankees slugger would serve as the captain for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, the reaction on social media was immediate.

World Series champion and former Kansas City Royal Eric Hosmer was pumped up about the move. “We’re so back,” he posted on .com. We’re so back https://t.co/7zZEBu6Dws — Eric Hosmer (@TheRealHos305) April 14, 2025 For many Yankees fans, it was a moment of pride. The team’s cornerstone slugger earning a leadership role on the international stage felt like both a validation and an exciting twist for next spring.

“This is great for baseball, I hope all the other stars follow Judge’s lead,” one fan posted. Others echoed the sentiment: “Team USA’s ready to roll!” and simply, “Deserved. Congrats, Cap.”

And of course there were quite a few, “ALL RISE!!!” tweets. But not everyone was thrilled. Concerns quickly followed from worried Yankees fans. The WBC takes players away from their spring training preparations and who could forget the Mets losing closer Edwin Diaz for the season after a WBC-celebration injury?

“Every Yankee fan-and, in fact, every fan base-will be holding their collective breath till this is over next March,” one post read. A sarcastic jab followed soon after: “Boone has decided to hold him out three games this week now, as a precaution to this decision.”

And it did not take long for Judge’s postseason struggles to be brought up. “Let’s hope he doesn’t drop the ball in the championship game,” one fan said, referring to Judge’s miscue in the Yankees’ epic 2024 World Series collapse. Another wrote, “Oh God, we can’t have Aaron Judge represent us in non-regular season baseball.”

One fan was more sarcastic: “On top of disappointing Yankees fans in October, Judge now wants to do the same for USA fans next March.” Of course, Mets fans found a way to make it about their team somehow being slighted again. The announcement graphic referred to Judge as “Captain America,” a nickname Mets fans associate with former third baseman David Wright. “There’s only one Captain America,” a Mets fan wrote. “And his jersey is going into the rafters at Citi Field in a few months.”