Logan Webb shares honest thoughts on Aaron Judge leadership after Team USA victory over Canada in World Baseball Classic

Logan Webb did his job on the mound, but after the game he spoke about something bigger than pitching. The San Francisco Giants starter made it clear how important Aaron Judge has been to Team USA during this year’s World Baseball Classic.

The United States booked a place in the semi finals after beating Canada, and Webb played a big role in that win. Logan Webb pitched 4⅔ strong innings against Canada.

He allowed five hits but did not give up a single run. He also walked one batter and struck out five. His outing helped Team USA move one step closer to the title.After the game, Webb spoke with reporter Ken Rosenthal and explained why Judge’s presence inside the clubhouse matters so much.

Team USA has faced heavy criticism during this tournament. Some fans and analysts questioned the team’s performance and leadership. But Webb said Judge has stayed calm the entire time and helped keep the group focused.“He’s calm all the time,” Logan Webb said. “I’ve never seen that guy waver. It’s pretty impressive. I think that’s why he’s the captain of the Yankees and our team. There’s a lot of leaders on this team pretty much everywhere, they’re leaders of their own team.

Having Aaron here, he’s the captain. It’s not just for the Yankees, it’s for the United States.”The interview was reported by Ken Rosenthal after the game.Even before reaching the semi finals, Team USA had been under pressure. A video of Aaron Judge giving a motivational message earlier in the tournament spread on social media and drew criticism from some users who called it “soulless.” Still, the team kept pushing forward and now stands two wins away from the championship.

Their next challenge will be a strong Dominican Republic team in Miami.

Logan Webb praises Aaron Judge leadership as Mark DeRosa faces criticism during Team USA World Baseball Classic runWhile Logan Webb’s pitching helped Team USA defeat Canada, the spotlight around the team has not only been about players. Manager Mark DeRosa has also become a major talking point during the tournament.DeRosa, who played in Major League Baseball from 1998 to 2013 and later worked as an analyst for MLB Network, is leading the national team again after managing the United States in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where they finished with a silver medal.However, several moments during this year’s event have brought criticism. One situation came after Team USA defeated Mexico. DeRosa said the team had already advanced to the quarterfinals. Later he admitted he had “misspoke” about the tournament situation.Because of that misunderstanding, he chose a weaker lineup in the final pool game against Italy. Team USA ended up losing that game.Later, DeRosa again tried to explain the standings but made another mistake.

He said the team had a 2–0 record before the Italy game, even though they had already won three games at that point.These comments led to frustration from fans and analysts who follow the World Baseball Classic closely.Despite the noise around the manager and the criticism online, the players have stayed focused. With Aaron Judge leading the clubhouse and pitchers like Logan Webb delivering key performances, Team USA now prepares for a big semi final matchup against the Dominican Republic.The Dominican lineup is loaded with stars, including Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Team USA is expected to start Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes for the game in Miami.