Getty
The reigning AL MVP could be even tougher out at the plate in 2026.
Aaron Judge is one of the most terrifying hitters of all time. The New York Yankees’ captain is fresh off a 53-homer season and his third American League MVP award. And he might be an even tougher out at the plate in 2026. The new challenge system could give him more leverage at the plate, as the 27-time World Series champions pursue another title behind their superstar.
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees Test ABS System at Spring Training
MLB’s new Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System will debut on Opening Night. It could tilt the plate even further in Judge’s favor, and the Yankees got their first real taste of it Wednesday at spring training.
“The early returns are in, and I think what you’re going to see this year is a lot of challenges and a lot of overturned calls,” Yankees’ reporter Bryan Hoch said on an X video reporting from camp. Hoch noted the Yankees brought in a minor league umpire to work a live batting practice session, and it didn’t take long for the fireworks to start.
“Trent Grisham got two calls overturned against Ben Hess. Aaron Judge extended an at-bat against Paul Blackburn. Hess, from the mound, tapped his cap and was able to get a strike called,” Hoch said on the X video. “It really shows and underlines how well these players understand the strike zone and how intuitive it is for them to challenge in real time.”
Judge sounded ready to embrace the change. “I’m excited for it. I think it’s going to be a little weird, because I’m not an umpire,” Judge said, according to Hoch. Judge also tied it directly to the Yankees’ championship aspirations: “Hopefully that’ll help us not tie for the division,” he added.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Comments on ABS System
Manager Aaron Boone is fully bought in. Hoch reported that Boone called the challenge system “second nature” and described it as a “new muscle.” He wants his players to trigger in-game action — because you’ve only got two seconds to decide whether to use it.
Boone kept it simple. “We want guys to be aggressive, but we also want to be right,” Hoch relayed in his spring training report on Wednesday. The Yanks’ manager also noted, per Hoch, that some teams in the minors didn’t challenge enough — and “you can’t take ’em home with you at the end of the game.”
New York Yankees Spring Training Schedule
Baseball is back. The Yankees will open up exhibition play on Friday against the Orioles, followed by weekend games against the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets. Yankees’ top pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange will take the ball Saturday. His fastball tops out at an incredible 103 mph, and the buzz surrounding him is real.
The Yankees’ rotation isn’t expected to be fully healthy at the beginning of the season. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon continue to work back from injuries and offseason procedures. The back half of the rotation will be critical, and newly-acquired hurler Ryan Weathers could play a pivotal role early on for the Bronx Bombers. Luis Gil, a former Rookie of the Year award winner, could be in line for a lot of early-season work as well.
Here’s the Yankees’ spring training schedule through February:
Feb 20 (Fri) — Yankees at Orioles, 1:05 PM, Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota
Feb 21 (Sat) — Tigers at Yankees, 1:05 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Feb 22 (Sun) — Mets at Yankees, 1:05 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Feb 23 (Mon) — Yankees at Pirates, TBA, LECOM Park, Bradenton
Feb 24 (Tue) — Yankees at Blue Jays, TBA, TD Ballpark, Dunedin
Feb 25 (Wed) — Nationals at Yankees, 6:35 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Feb 26 (Thu) — Braves at Yankees, 1:05 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Feb 27 (Fri) — Yankees at Twins, TBA, Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
Feb 28 (Sat) — Blue Jays at Yankees, 1:05 PM, Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Justin Carlucci brings 13+ years of journalism experience to Heavy. A veteran of multiple industry-leading companies, he has hosted SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio shows and contributed to the New York Post, combining traditional sports and news reporting with expertise in sports betting and fantasy sports. More about Justin Carlucci
More Heavy on Yankees
Loading more stories