Aaron Judge's wife played huge role in life-changing $360 million agreement Aaron Judge is leading Team USA into the final of the World Baseball Classic, with his wife, Samantha Bracksieck, by his side throughout the tournament. The United States secured its place in the final after a controversial game against the Dominican Republic, where Judge faced backlash from Yankees fans for his post-match comments. Despite the attention, Judge remains focused on representing his country, with plans to return to New York after the tournament concludes. His journey to the Yankees' record-breaking $360 million, nine-year contract before the 2023 season was heavily influenced by his wife. Judge entered free agency ahead of the 2023 season and drew interest from the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. The Giants reportedly made an initial offer, but the Yankees ultimately retained him with a historic contract. During contract negotiations, Judge revealed that his wife encouraged him to reach out to Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner when talks stalled. Judge shared the story on a podcast, explaining how his wife pushed him to contact Steinbrenner despite the owner being on vacation. Judge described the conversation as pivotal. He explained that after discussing potential offers with his wife during a flight to Hawaii, he decided to call Steinbrenner. The owner, impressed by Judge's commitment, agreed to extend his contract and announced his promotion to team captain. Judge was surprised by the captaincy offer, noting it was more impactful than the financial terms. His wife, Samantha, was eager to hear his reaction, emphasizing the significance of the moment.#world_baseball_classic #aaron_judge #yankees #samantha_bracksieck #hal_steinbrenner
Yankees’ Aaron Judge delivers strong message on eve of WBC: ‘I love this country’ Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ star outfielder, emphasized his deep patriotism and commitment to representing the United States as he prepares to compete in the World Baseball Classic. The 2026 tournament marks his first appearance in the event, and Judge has expressed his excitement about the opportunity to showcase American baseball on a global stage. Judge, who has been a key figure for the Yankees, is taking a three-week break from spring training to join Team USA in Arizona. He will don the Team USA jersey, a role he described as one of the greatest honors of his career. “I’m going into this to win it, but it’s not just that,” Judge said at Steinbrenner Field. “I’m representing the U.S. I love this country. It’s the greatest country in the world.” The 32-year-old player, known for his measured responses during the regular season, spoke candidly about his pride in American values. “I think about the men and women who have sacrificed so much to preserve our freedom and our way of life,” he said. “That’s what the jersey means to me. I’ll wear it to honor those who’ve given their lives so I can play this kid’s game. So I can have a beautiful family and live free.” Judge’s patriotism has been a defining trait since his early days. As a teenager, he developed an interest in U.S. history, particularly its role in World War II. His father, Wayne, was a varsity basketball coach at Linden High School in California, where Judge first encountered the national anthem. Today, he leads his Yankees teammates in singing God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch at the Stadium. Alongside Gerrit Cole, Anthony Volpe, and Aaron Boone, he enforces a tradition of singing the anthem in front of the dugout as a sign of respect for veterans.#world_baseball_classic #team_usa #aaron_judge #yankees #mark_derosa
