TAMPA, Fla. — The bus to Sarasota left without Aaron Judge on Friday morning. That was always the plan. The Yankees’ captain does not make spring road trips, especially the longer ones. The drive from Steinbrenner Field to Ed Smith Stadium takes about an hour without traffic. For a player coming off a 53-homer season and his third AL MVP award, there is no reason to grind through it in February.
Judge was not the only star missing from the Grapefruit League opener against the Orioles. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, the oldest player on the roster at 38, stayed back in Tampa as well. Both are Team USA players preparing for the World Baseball Classic, and both will ease into game action on their own schedule.
Judge’s spring debut set for Saturday against the Tigers
Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that Judge will make his 2026 spring debut Saturday in right field when the Tigers visit Steinbrenner Field at 1:05 p.m. ET. On Sunday against the Mets, Judge is scheduled to serve as designated hitter.
This is a departure from recent springs when Judge played sparingly in the early weeks. With the WBC approaching, the Yankees need their captain built up for full games. Judge is scheduled to appear in five of the team’s first nine exhibition contests before heading to Phoenix on March 1 for Team USA workouts. The first WBC game is March 6 against Brazil in Houston.
Stanton, Cabrera and Schlittler all on hold for different reasons
While Judge’s absence is routine, three other Yankees are being kept out of game action for reasons that require more attention.
Giancarlo Stanton has no timetable for his spring debut. The designated hitter is healthy in the traditional sense but is managing chronic pain in both elbows that has lingered since early in the 2024 season. The Yankees say the delayed start is strictly about protection. Boone has not committed to a date for Stanton to begin playing in exhibition games.
Oswaldo Cabrera is close to full health after fracturing his left ankle last May during a road trip to Seattle. The injury ended his 2025 season and required surgery. Cabrera has been active in camp but has not yet been cleared to run at full speed, which means he is not ready for game action.
Cam Schlittler is the one who had Yankees fans holding their breath the longest. The 25-year-old right-hander was kept off the mound for a week early in camp after reporting mid-back inflammation and discomfort in his left lat. He threw a pain-free live batting practice session on Wednesday and is trending in the right direction.
Boone was cautious when asked about Schlittler’s timeline for game appearances.
“I don’t want to speak out of turn yet,” Boone said. “I don’t know as far as exhibitions because sometimes we’ll get to a spot and it may be a live or he’s in the game.”
Schlittler posted a 2.96 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 73 innings across 14 regular-season starts last year. He then delivered one of the most memorable postseason debuts in franchise history, striking out 12 batters over eight scoreless innings to clinch the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox. He is expected to slot into the rotation behind Max Fried and Luis Gil when the regular season opens March 25 in San Francisco.
Who made the trip to Sarasota for the opener
The lineup for Friday’s game was not short on recognizable names. Boone sent several of his WBC-bound players to get early game reps before they leave camp. Second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Great Britain), shortstop Jose Caballero (Panama), third baseman Amed Rosario (Dominican Republic) and catcher Austin Wells (Dominican Republic) were all on the travel roster.
Getting those players into games now is a priority. Chisholm is due to leave for WBC duty next weekend, along with closer David Bednar (Team USA). The first Team USA game is March 6 in Houston.
Here is where to watch all 34 Yankees Spring training game.
Boone excited to see Rodriguez take the mound
Right-hander Elmer Rodriguez drew the start for Friday’s opener. The 22-year-old Puerto Rican is the Yankees’ No. 4 pitching prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Acquired from the Red Sox in December 2024 for catcher Carlos Narvaez, Rodriguez pitched to a 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts in 150 innings across three levels last season.
Boone had not seen Rodriguez pitch in person before this spring. What he has heard made him eager for Friday.
“I think he’s got a chance to be a starting pitcher in this league for a long time,” Boone said. “That’s how he profiles to me and everything I hear about him. I’m excited to see him go. I think he’s got a really bright future.”
Will Warren also made an impression during Thursday’s live batting practice, throwing three innings at 93 to 96 mph. At one point, he struck out Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton and Judge in succession.
The Yankees open their home schedule Saturday at 1:05 p.m. against the Tigers. That is when Judge steps into the batter’s box for the first time this spring. Until then, the rest of the roster has the stage.
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