Aaron Judge Shines with Silver Slugger and Team USA Captaincy in Stellar Start to 2025

Aaron Judge has kicked off the 2025 season just like he finished 2024 — as the undisputed face of Major League Baseball.

In a matter of hours on Monday, the Yankees superstar added two more major honors to his already impressive resume. First, he was officially named captain of Team USA for the upcoming 2026 World Baseball Classic. Later that evening, before the Yankees opened their series against the Kansas City Royals, Judge was honored at Yankee Stadium with his fourth career Silver Slugger Award.

“Captain America”: Judge to Lead Team USA in 2026

The announcement of Judge as Team USA’s captain for the next WBC comes as no surprise. His towering on-field presence, combined with quiet leadership off the field, makes him an ideal figurehead for a team expected to be stacked with talent.

At 32 years old, Judge becomes the heartbeat of a national squad aiming to rebound from a runner-up finish in the 2023 tournament. With the “C” now stitched into his legacy, Judge’s international influence continues to rise.

Honored at Home: Silver Slugger No. 4

That evening, Judge received another moment in the spotlight, this time in front of a roaring Bronx crowd. Prior to first pitch, he was recognized with the 2024 Silver Slugger Award, a symbol of his dominance at the plate last season.

It’s the fourth Silver Slugger of his career, and his third in the last four seasons. Among Yankees legends, only Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, Jorge Posada, and Dave Winfield have more, each with five.

A Historic 2024 Season

Judge’s numbers last year were staggering. He led all of baseball in nearly every major offensive category, including:

• Home Runs: 58

• RBIs: 144

• Walks: 133

• OPS: 1.159

• WAR: 10.8

He nearly matched his own American League record of 62 home runs, set in 2022, and was rewarded with his second AL MVP award — this time by unanimous vote.

Red-Hot Start in 2025

As if last season wasn’t enough, Judge has picked up right where he left off. In Monday night’s 4-1 win over the Royals, he went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. Through his first 16 games of 2025, he’s batting .367/.479/.733, with 6 homers, 20 RBIs, and 17 runs scored.

At this rate, a third MVP trophy and a fifth Silver Slugger could be well within reach.

One Prize Still Eludes Him

Despite all the accolades, one piece of hardware still escapes Aaron Judge — a World Series ring. The Yankees came close last season, winning the American League pennant, but injuries have already tested the roster in 2025.

Still, with Judge healthy and on fire, the Yankees have every reason to believe he can lead them all the way.

From team captain to Silver Slugger and beyond, Aaron Judge continues to cement his place in baseball history — and he’s not done yet.