You won’t find reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge in Friday’s spring training opener against the Baltimore Orioles — and that’s by design, not concern. The New York Yankees roll out a loaded travel roster without their captain, according to Yankees reporter Bryan Hoch. There’s a Saturday debut plan already locked in for Judge, and spring camp hype is building fast in Tampa.
Friday’s road trip to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota doubles as the first real action of 2026 for the Yankees, and the names riding the bus aren’t filler. Per Hoch, Austin Wells, Jose Caballero, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Amed Rosario are all on the travel squad for the opener, with right-hander Elmer Rodriguez getting the starting nod on the mound.
Aaron Judge to Debut Saturday for New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers Spring Training
No injury, no red flag — the captain is simply on a different ramp-up calendar. Per Hoch, Judge will make his spring debut Saturday in right field when the Tigers visit Steinbrenner Field, then shift to designated hitter on Sunday against the Mets.
That’s the kind of measured ramp-up you’d expect for a guy coming off a 53-homer season and his third AL MVP award. Nobody needs their franchise slugger logging highway miles for an exhibition opener when live at-bats at Steinbrenner Field are 24 hours away.
Judge told reporters in Tampa earlier this week that he still has unfinished business. “I think I’ll never be satisfied until we go out there and finish it,” he said, per NorthJersey.com’s Pete Caldera, referencing the championship he’s still chasing after a decade in pinstripes. The Yankees came up short again in 2025, and Judge is the one setting the tone from day one of camp — even if “day one” for him means Saturday, not Friday.
Yankees Jazz Chisholm, Elmer Rodriguez to Play Friday
The real Friday storyline might be what’s happening on the mound. Rodriguez, the New York Yankees’ No. 2 prospect per Baseball America, is getting his first spring training start against the Orioles, and this isn’t a throwaway audition. The 22-year-old right-hander posted a 2.58 ERA across 150 innings in 2025, working through three minor league levels with a nasty pitch mix.
With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon still working back from injuries and offseason procedures, the Yankees’ rotation depth is going to get tested early. Lagrange follows Rodriguez on Saturday’s home card against Detroit, giving the organization two days to evaluate some of the team’s top up-and-comers.
Yankees Spring Training Schedule
Here’s the full Yankees schedule rundown through the end of the month:
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Feb 20 (Fri) — Yankees at Orioles, 1:05 PM, Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
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Feb 21 (Sat) — Tigers at Yankees, 1:05 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
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Feb 22 (Sun) — Mets at Yankees, 1:05 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
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Feb 23 (Mon) — Yankees at Pirates, 1:05 PM, LECOM Park, Bradenton
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Feb 24 (Tue) — Yankees at Blue Jays, 1:07 PM, TD Ballpark, Dunedin
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Feb 25 (Wed) — Nationals at Yankees, 6:35 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
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Feb 26 (Thu) — Braves at Yankees, 1:05 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
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Feb 27 (Fri) — Yankees at Twins, 1:05 PM, Lee Health Sports Complex, Fort Myers
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Feb 28 (Sat) — Blue Jays at Yankees, 1:05 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Aaron Judge Sits Friday: New York Yankees Reveal Debut Plan