Spring training always starts the same way: sunshine, fresh uniforms, and that first little reminder that this whole thing is bigger than batting practice. Today at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees leaned into that “bigger than baseball” vibe with their annual team-building day — and yes, it was the kind of event that looks corny from the outside until you remember what a 162-game grind does to a clubhouse.
Steve Shenbaum served as the guest speaker, and Boone made it clear this isn’t some check-the-box seminar the team suffers through between PFPs and cage work.
“Something good to continue to bring the guys together a little bit. It’s entertaining. We get very interactive with it. It’s great.” — Aaron Boone
Translation: the Yankees want a room full of guys who actually like being around each other when the season inevitably gets uncomfortable. Because it will. And you don’t build that chemistry in May when the schedule is chewing your legs off — you build it now, before the first pitch even counts. The Yankees Are “Running It Back” — Here’s Why That Might Actually Work
Spring Opener: Who’s Going to Sarasota
Among those on the travel roster for tomorrow’s spring opener at Orioles: Austin Wells, Jose Caballero, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Amed Rosario.
Elmer Rodriguez starting for the Yankees.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) February 19, 2026
The Yankees open their spring slate tomorrow on the road against the Orioles, and the travel roster includes some names that matter — not “random early spring” names, but real pieces the Yankees are clearly ready to evaluate in live action. NYY.NEWS Yankees Live Game Updates
- Austin Wells
- Jose Caballero
- Jazz Chisholm Jr.
- Amed Rosario
And on the mound? Elmer Rodriguez will start for the Yankees. Jake Bird is also expected to pitch.
That’s the early spring formula: get meaningful eyes on a young arm, layer in another pitcher you want to see in a competitive setting, and mix in position players who are either new to the room or have something to prove in this particular version of the Yankees.
Wells is going to be watched closely, because the Yankees need stability behind the plate and production that doesn’t disappear for weeks at a time. Caballero and Rosario add the kind of depth that saves you in July when your roster looks like a triage unit. And Jazz… Jazz is the electricity. He’s the reminder that this lineup doesn’t have to feel like it’s dragging a piano up the stairs every night.
And No, Aaron Judge Isn’t Playing Tomorrow
Here’s where the fanbase starts staring at the lineup card like it personally disrespected them: Aaron Judge will not be in Friday’s spring training opener. He won’t be making that trip. And before anyone spirals — this isn’t an injury story. This is a planning story.
The Yankees already mapped out the captain’s weekend:
- Saturday: Judge makes his spring debut in right field
- Sunday: Judge is scheduled to DH
That’s the blueprint. Build him up, get him reps, and do it in a controlled way. They’re not “hiding” Judge. They’re not babying Judge. They’re doing what every team with championship intentions does: they’re managing the workload like adults.
Also, let’s be honest — you don’t burn a premium asset on the first road bus ride of the spring if you don’t have to. Not when Steinbrenner Field is right there, the facilities are right there, and the ramp-up plan is already in place. The Yankees want Judge to be Judge in October, not “look, he played two innings in Sarasota in February” famous.
What Tomorrow Actually Matters For
Tomorrow is less about the scoreboard and more about the first real pecking order of camp. It’s about rhythm. It’s about seeing how new parts fit next to familiar ones. It’s about whether a young starter looks like he belongs when hitters stop “working on things” and start trying to barrel you.
Elmer Rodriguez getting the ball first is not an accident. The Yankees want to see how he carries himself when the game clock is real, when there are runners, when there’s traffic, when a mistake actually gets punished. Spring is the lab — but the lab still needs pressure tests.
And if Jake Bird follows, that’s another chance to see how the middle innings might be shaped before the Yankees inevitably start juggling workloads and matchups like it’s a daily chessboard.
The Only “Delay” Story Right Now
One note worth tracking: Rafael Montero has yet to arrive at Yankees camp, and the reason is a visa issue.
No drama, no mystery. It’s not a performance thing. It’s not a “where is he?” panic. It’s logistics — and unfortunately, logistics don’t care that spring training is on the calendar.
The Yankees will get him in when it clears. Until then, it’s simply one more reminder that February baseball is never as clean as fans want it to be.
The Big Picture: The Yankees Are Setting the Tone
Today’s team-building event wasn’t just a feel-good headline. Tomorrow’s opener isn’t just a “spring game.” Judge sitting out Friday isn’t a reason to clutch pearls.
Put it together and it’s pretty obvious what the Yankees are trying to do: start the season with structure. A unified room. A planned ramp-up. Real evaluations. No unnecessary risks. The Yankees are treating February like the foundation — because if your foundation is shaky, the season doesn’t “figure itself out.” It collapses the first time adversity shows up.
So yes, the spring opener is tomorrow. Yes, there will be overreactions. And yes, the real buzz starts this weekend when the captain finally takes the field.
Pinstripes are back. Let’s see who shows up ready to claim a job!
What are you watching for most in the opener — Rodriguez’s outing, Wells behind the plate, or the Jazz factor? And how do you feel about Judge’s weekend-only debut plan?
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