Aaron Judge Homers in First Spring Training At-Bat as Yankees Beat Phillies 8-5

Aaron Judge made an immediate impact in his 2026 spring training debut on Tuesday afternoon, launching a towering home run on the very first pitch he saw as the New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, providing an early indication that the captain is ready for another monster season.

The 31-year-old slugger took Phillies starter Zack Wheeler deep on a 94-mph fastball, sending the ball an estimated 450 feet over the left-center field wall in the second inning. The blast drew thunderous applause from the capacity spring training crowd of 11,026 and immediately energized a Yankees lineup that has high expectations for the upcoming campaign.

"It felt great to get back in there and see live pitching again," Judge said after the game. "Zack threw me a strike, and I was ready for it. Obviously it's just spring training, but it's nice to see the ball well right from the start. I've been working hard this offseason, and I'm excited about what this team can accomplish this year."

The Yankees' offensive explosion continued throughout the afternoon, with Giancarlo Stanton adding a two-run double in the fourth inning and Gleyber Torres contributing three hits including an RBI triple. The balanced attack showcased the depth that manager Aaron Boone hopes will make New York a legitimate World Series contender after falling short in recent postseasons.

Wheeler, who was making his first appearance since signing a four-year extension with Philadelphia in the offseason, allowed four runs on six hits over 3.1 innings pitched. The veteran right-hander appeared to be working on his command rather than focusing solely on results, though he expressed frustration with several pitches that missed their intended locations.

Judge's impressive debut comes as he enters the second year of his nine-year, 60 million contract extension, with the pressure to deliver a championship weighing heavily on both him and the organization. His early spring showing, combined with the Yankees' aggressive offseason moves to bolster their rotation, suggests that 2026 could finally be the year the Bronx Bombers return to October glory. With five weeks remaining until Opening Day, Judge's explosive start provides reason for optimism among Yankees faithful who have waited over a decade for another World Series title.