As New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge stood before his locker in the visitors clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium on the final day of the 2023 season, he made it clear that there was no one he would rather have as his manager than Aaron Boone.

Aaron Judge spent most of his career hitting second in the New York Yankees lineup. Last season, the Yankees' captain dropped to the No. 3 spot to make room for Juan Soto, who filled the spot typically reserved for the team’s best hitter.

"I know that if he wasn't the Yankee manager, there'd be a feeding frenzy for him to be a manager that's coveted elsewhere," general manager Brian Cashman said.

Aaron Judge and the Yankees are preparing for a strong 2025 season. However, Aaron Boone has shared a latest update on Judge's availability.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said in an interview with Foul Territory TV on Wednesday that he plans to bat Judge second this season. Judge hit in the two hole regularly in 2023 before moving to the three spot in 2024 while Juan Soto batted second.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he expects Judge to make his Grapefruit League debut March 1 or shortly thereafter, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. Judge isn't dealing with an injury during camp, but the Yankees plan to hold the star outfielder out for the first week and a half of exhibition play to let players vying for roster spots pick up more at-bats.

Aaron Boone said Sunday “right now my lean is second,” but “I also know he loves hitting third.” Judge has occupied the second spot in the order more than any other in his career – 528 starts – with third the second-most (319 starts).

The New York Yankees have been undergoing some major changes in recent months, both on and off the field. In the last few months alone, the Yankees have

But the crowd at Steinbrenner Field will not see the reigning AL MVP in Friday’s opener and instead will have to wait an extra week to watch him in action this spring, as manager Aaron Boone has circled March 1 as Judge’s likely spring debut.

The Yankees signed Boone to a two-year contract extension through the 2027 season, the team announced Thursday, ensuring that he will not enter this season as a lame-duck manager.

As he prepares to enter his eighth season as the Yankees’ manager, Aaron Boone says “there's no other place I’d rather be, and no other team I’d rather be doing it with.” Boone’s tenure in the Bombers’ dugout has been extended by an additional two years,