Skip to content

Yankees opening spring training gates early for Judge-Stanton BP

Adam Hunger / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The New York Yankees are going to give the people what they want this spring: baseballs being crushed into orbit.

The club announced Tuesday they will be opening the gates at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa three hours before game time during spring training. This will give fans their first glimpse of Aaron Judge and new teammate Giancarlo Stanton annihilating baseballs during batting practice.

In previous years, the gates opened two hours before first pitch, according to the Associated Press.

Stanton led the majors with 59 home runs in 2017 while Judge wasn't far behind, leading the American League with 52 long balls. Stanton was acquired in a trade with the Miami Marlins in December.

They will only be the second pair of teammates to have each hit 50 homers the previous year. The other two were Yankees legends Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, who each eclipsed the 50-home run plateau in 1961.

The Yankees' first spring training game comes Feb. 23 against the Detroit Tigers at Steinbrenner Field.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox