Aaron Judge and a loaded US roster hope to dethrone Ohtani's Japan at the World Baseball Classic

Aaron Judge is trading pinstripes for a plain jersey with red, white and blue letters. “Getting the chance to wear that across my chest is going to be pretty powerful,” the U.S. and New York Yankees captain said of the World Baseball Classic. After losing 3-2 in the 2023 final when Japan's Shohei Ohtani ended the game by striking out Mike Trout, the U.S. will be trying for its first championship since 2017 when 20 nations compete for the sixth championship starting Thursday.

By RONALD BLUM