‘Telling my kids about him’: How Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr. built special bond
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Aaron Judge praised Bobby Witt Jr. as a complete player and franchise builder.
- Judge and Witt built a relationship while teammates in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
- Both players are strong early contenders in the 2026 MVP race with notable stats.
New York Yankees star Aaron Judge stood in awe.
Judge, who is the reigning American League MVP, waited patiently for his next at-bat during the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He was due up third in the star-studded Team USA batting order.
And yet, all eyes weren’t on him. Instead, the crowd shifted its attention to the batter’s box as Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. stepped to the plate.
Witt drew a raucous applause. And in that moment, Judge couldn’t help but smile as he caught a glimpse of baseball’s future.
One that he wholeheartedly believes is in good hands.
“He’s a complete player,” Judge said of Witt. “He’s the type of guy you build your franchise around and kind of build your league around.”
Judge and Witt have crossed paths in recent years. They were on opposite sides of the 2024 American League Division Series before teaming up in the WBC. And organically, they have built an interesting relationship.
The players each represent a different baseball generation. Judge is one of the biggest names in Major League Baseball and a surefire future Hall of Famer.
He has done it all across 11 MLB seasons. Judge is a three-time MVP, seven-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger Award winner. He also won a batting title and was a Roberto Clemente Award recipient.
Judge is the face of the league. He dominates national headlines and is recognizable among casual baseball fans. At his apex, Judge continues to carry the MLB banner alongside Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper.
As he gets older, Judge understands there’s a new face on the horizon. And the 34-year-old outfielder sees Witt as the perfect choice to help take the league into the next decade.
“It’s the little things he does to get ready for the game,” Judge said. “It’s the little things he does talking with his teammates. It’s just his preparation, his work, his knowledge of the game, his love for the game. I just admire that a lot.
“So getting a chance to see it up close, kind of pick his brain a little bit and what makes him tick. It was just a cool experience for me. I was really happy we got a chance to connect there (WBC) and we still text back and forth. We still chitchat. I check in on him and, you know, he’s checking in on me. So it’s a good bond.”
During the WBC, Judge would sit next to Witt in the clubhouse. The duo compared hitting notes dating back nearly 10 seasons. They hoped to make each other better.
The study sessions paid off. Witt soaked up knowledge on various topics, including how to become a better player and leader on and off the field.
“(I learned) just how to be an everyday big leaguer and just how to get yourself ready each and every day,” Witt said. “(It’s) how to be consistent. There’s work that you have to put in. They’re not satisfied with anything. There’s always room for improvement and there’s always ways to get better.”
And Judge saw Witt put his teachings into action. In team meetings, he reflected on several moments where Witt made his thoughts known in a constructive way.
“Besides the stuff on the field, I saw a lot of leadership qualities that he holds, too,” Judge said. “He shows up every single day ready to go. He’s always wanting to learn. He’s always asking questions. He leads by example, obviously, we see that on the field. I think also in the clubhouse, too, he speaks up, especially at any meetings and things like that. Just what was on his mind.”
The Royals welcomed the Yankees to Kauffman Stadium this week, with both players off to a strong start in the 2026 MVP race.
Prior to Tuesday’s action, Judge was hitting .250 with 17 homers, 32 RBIs and 41 runs scored. He’d also posted a 2.2 WAR (wins above replacement) in 54 games.
Witt is right in the mix. He leads the league with a 3.4 WAR and 63 hits. The 25-year-old superstar entered Tuesday hitting .294 with eight homers, 24 RBIs and an .841 OPS.
In 2024, Witt finished second to Judge in the final voting tally. This season may provide another fun competition between good friends with mutual respect.
“He’s not only one of the best players in the league, just one of the best humans,” Witt said. “Just how he is in the clubhouse, how he is in the cage, how he is before games. Just so positive and just always getting guys right. And now, I get to call him a friend. So just a great person to be around and great for this game to have him involved in.”
Judge felt the same way. Baseball is all about legacies, and he looks forward to seeing Witt take the sport in the right direction.
“I think it’s the impact that you make on other guys, other players, other people, that’s the stuff that lives on forever,” Judge said. “You know, the stories they tell, the moments they share. So getting a chance to share that with Bobby was pretty special. I’ll definitely be telling my kids about him and I’ll be hopefully ... taking them to see him play when I’m done playing.”
