TAMPA — As Aaron Decide mentioned his first-time participation within the World Baseball Traditional final week, the Yankees and Workforce USA captain mentioned he expects that sharing a clubhouse with different nice gamers would be the finest a part of the worldwide match.
The back-to-back American League MVP has been in related settings earlier than as a seven-time All-Star, however Decide believes “this room goes to be completely different” due to the patriotic fervor that motivates not solely his staff, however all of the others within the WBC.
“Lots of people have lots of satisfaction for his or her nation,” mentioned Decide, who has been trash-talking with some Yankees teammates who’re enjoying for different nations. “It’s nice for baseball, nice for the followers.”
Decide added that he’s excited to choose the brains of different stars on Workforce USA, which is boasting its most stacked WBC roster but. When requested if there was anybody specifically that he wished to be taught from, Decide informed the Each day Information that he has just a few gamers in thoughts.
He began off with Workforce USA’s first baseman, Bryce Harper.
“Harper is a man who’s been within the league for therefore lengthy and had success with a number of groups, a number of conditions,” Decide mentioned of the previous Nationwide and present Phillie, who additionally has a number of MVPs on his resumé. “He’s undoubtedly on the prime of my checklist. I feel he’s gonna be hitting in entrance of me, so it’ll be good to form of decide his mind about what he seems to be for and what he tries to do.”
Decide couldn’t cease at one participant, although, as he additionally talked about two heart fielders: the Twins’ Byron Buxton and the Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Whereas Decide has largely been a proper fielder — he was the person in the course of the Yankees’ outfield in 2024 — he already finds defensive pointers from Bombers heart fielder Trent Grisham useful. Maybe with some added recommendation from Buxton and PCA, Decide can be part of the trio within the Gold Glove membership this season.
“They’re two of the perfect heart fielders within the sport,” mentioned Decide, a gifted defender in his personal proper. “That’s one factor that’s nice about having Grisham, one other among the best heart fielders within the sport. Having him subsequent to me to choose his mind, what he seems to be for, what he tries to coach, what he does [helps], so Bux and people guys all form of do the identical factor.”
Decide could have loads of others to speak store with on Workforce USA, together with, however definitely not restricted to, Cy Younger winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal — the latter mentioned he’ll solely make one WBC begin on Monday — the just lately retired and Corridor of Fame-bound Clayton Kershaw, and 2025 AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh.
Whereas Decide may even discuss life within the majors, management and household with different stars, he mentioned he’s most to see how they put together.
“That’s the one factor I at all times take a look at any man we get [with the Yankees],” Decide mentioned. “’How do you put together to be nice?’ All these guys in that room are going to be nice, in order that’ll be enjoyable.”
In fact, Decide will attempt to give as a lot as he takes throughout the WBC. He simply needs to guarantee that he saves the perfect ideas for his Yankees friends.
“I’m an open guide,” he mentioned. “Should you’ve acquired questions for me, otherwise you wish to watch something, see something, I’m right here to develop the sport. I received’t give away all the highest secrets and techniques. I normally save these for the Yankees, however I’m right here to assist guys. That’s what this sport is about.”
A number of of Decide’s Yankees teammates may even briefly ditch the pinstripes for the celebs and stripes, as first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and nearer David Bednar are additionally enjoying for the U.S. In the meantime, former Yankee and present particular advisor Andy Pettitte goes to function pitching coach below supervisor Mark DeRosa.
Different Yankees enjoying within the WBC embrace Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Nice Britain); José Caballero (Panama); Fernando Cruz and Elmer Rodríguez (Puerto Rico); and Camilo Doval, Austin Wells and Amed Rosario (Dominican Republic).
With the Yankees’ lengthy checklist of WBC contributors anticipated to go away camp on March 1 — the match runs from March 5-17 — Decide can’t wait to don a distinct uniform for a short time as Workforce USA seems to be to avenge its second-place end to Japan in 2023.
“I by no means had the chance to signify the USA,” Decide mentioned, “and getting an opportunity to put on that throughout my chest goes to be fairly highly effective.”
