Aaron Judge pumps up USA at WBC, Nolan McLean tries to 'finish this thing'

Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Tue, March 17, 2026 at 4:22 AM UTC

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MIAMI — The boys were pumped up in the Team USA clubhouse Sunday evening, yelling, fist-pumping, back-slapping and absolutely exhilarated.

They had just knocked off the powerful Dominican Republic in the semifinals, advancing to the championship game Tuesday night (8 p.m. ET, FOX) against Venezuela, and are so close to the gold medal now that they could almost touch it.

USA captain Aaron Judge stood up in front of the room, and told them how proud he was with their complete team effort. He pointed everyone out from starter Paul Skenes to closer Mason Miller and the bullpen, to shortstop Bobby Witt, to the home runs by Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony.

Go ahead and enjoy the victory, Judge told them, but once they leave the clubhouse, it was time to focus on the business at hand.

They have one more game.

Win, and everything they’ve worked hard for, beginning in Phoenix for four days, 10 nights in Houston, and now in Miami, will be all worth it. It has been their dream to be standing on the championship stage in center field Tuesday, with World Baseball Classic officials adorning them with gold medals, with a sellout crowd cheering.

1 / 0Best moments as Team USA takes on Dominican Republic in WBC semifinalDominican Republic designated hitter Junior Caminero celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run in the second inning.

Lose the championship game, and everything is ruined.

It has always been gold medal or bust, and now, being ever so close, it’s no time to let up now.

“He was like, 'Hey, we knew that was a big game,' " manager Mark DeRosa told USA TODAY Sports. “Certainly, the whole world was watching knowing it was going to be a draining, epic battle, and that it was.

“But he said, 'Let’s set the focus back. We still got work to do.' "

Judge hasn’t spoken after every game, but this time, he felt it was necessary. The pain of losing to Italy during pool play in Houston, after knocking off powerful Mexico, was a scary reminder how their fate can turn dramatically.

“He gave a great speech,’’ USA bullpen coach David Ross said. “He said, 'Keep the focus on one more. Great win, but we got one left.’

“He went around and said, 'Skenes, you did a hell of a job. Bullpen. Young guys, way to swing it.’ Just very positive.

“But at the end, he brought it back to, 'We got one more, let’s finish this thing.' "

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Team USA will turn to 24-year-old Mets rookie Nolan McLean to finish it off against Venezuela.

McLean was the losing pitcher in that 8-6 loss to Italy, striking out the side in the first inning, but then giving up two homers in a span of three at-bats in the second inning, and walked two more batters in the third. He was yanked after just three innings.

Nolan McLean pitches for Team USA against Team Italy.

There were no excuses, McLean said, after nearly missing the WBC completely when he was diagnosed with vertigo-like symptoms in Mets camp. He didn’t join Team USA until it reached Houston.

Now, he says he feels 100%, will be good to go for 65 to 70 pitches, and with the way USA’s bullpen has pitched lights out, just pitching four strong innings might be all that's needed.

“I guess as far as the vertigo stuff, I don't know if there's an actual test to know if I had for sure vertigo,’’ McLean said. “I was definitely dizzy. … I had a stretch there where I didn’t feel like myself, but I told my wife, if I can get on a plane, I’m going to play…

“I'm fully past all that now and I'm feeling good.’’

And a healthy McLean is all DeRosa needs, believing that McLean will be a future star in this game.

“I think he's just built for this,’’ DeRosa said. “His mindset, his stuff, his want, all of that kind of led to him being a part of this team.’’

McLean, who says he’s having the time of his life with the experience, should have a few more familiar faces in the stands cheering him Tuesday. Several of his Mets teammates, like Christian Scott, promised they would make the two-hour drive from their spring training camp in Port St. Lucie to see him.

“Putting U.S. on your chest and going out there and competing,’’ McLean said, “obviously means the world. As a competitor and as someone, if you work your whole life at something, you want to be put in these spots. So it's just kind of a dream come true to be able to get the ball in such a big moment, and it's something I want to do.

“I mean, I'm just super pumped to get the ball and go out there and compete. All I ever want to do is win.’’

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA taps Nolan McLean for WBC final; Aaron Judge pumps up team

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