Baseball is back for the New York Yankees.
Their Spring Training schedule begins Friday when they take on the Baltimore Orioles at 1:05 p.m. ET in Grapefruit League action.
It’s an opportunity for a Yankees team that mostly looks the same to also see how their top prospects and non-roster invitees look as they head toward a new season.
One player everyone is always watching, of course, is Aaron Judge. The 6-foot-7 superstar and reigning MVP is hard to miss and is a fan favorite.
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Judge, though, was dinged up late last season, a right elbow problem, that limited his ability to play the field in the second half.
With the World Baseball Classic coming up, too, Judge wants to be at his best for both Team USA and then for the Yankees in the season ahead.
Because of that, the Yanks have a very specific plan for Judge before he leaves for the WBC.
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Is Aaron Judge playing today?
Aaron Judge is not in the Yankees’ lineup for the spring opener on Friday, Feb. 20.
Manager Aaron Boone told reporters earlier in the week that Judge wouldn’t play in this one.
The plan is for Judge to play in either four or five of the Yankees’ first nine spring games before he heads off to WBC action.
Boone revealed the schedule further, too.
Judge will make his spring debut on Saturday, Feb. 21, and play right field. Then on Sunday, Judge will be in the lineup again but only as the designated hitter.
The Yankees will be careful with their all-time great while also allowing him to properly prepare for the WBC, a tough balance but one they’re aiming to hit spot on.
