An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) and first baseman Ben Rice (22) celebrate after Rice scores on a solo home run, Image 2 shows New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) pitches in the second inning, Image 3 shows New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) reacts after stealing second base during the second inning
Yankee Stadium looks like you remember it looking. There isn’t a ton different from last year, the lone exception a brighter, clearer scoreboard that is easier to read.
Roughly the same, but a bit sharper. In the Yankees’ home opener Friday afternoon, the stadium experience sure felt symbolic.
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The run-it-back Yankees opened the home portion of their schedule by only using players — nine hitters and five pitchers — who wore pinstripes last season, and their belief that there is a higher ceiling within this crew gained a bit more steam in an 8-2 victory over the Marlins in front of a sellout crowd of 48,788, who arrived with winter jackets and stripped them off when the sun peeked out.
The Yankees (6-1) received power from Aaron Judge and Ben Rice, patience from just about everyone and further promise from Will Warren and four relievers.
Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) celebrated with first baseman Ben Rice (22) after he scores on his solo home run. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
“The crowd was electric from intros,” said Judge, whose Yankees matched their second-best start through seven decisions in franchise history, having begun 7-0 in 1933 and 6-1 12 times previously, including in 2024. “The weather was great. We were kind of freezing our butts off in Seattle a little bit.
“But it was good to come home — can’t script it much better than that.”
If the energy on what is a baseball holiday was dinged by Xavier Edwards’ home run in the top of the first, the bottom of the inning felt like a party again.
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) reacts after stealing second base during the second inning. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Judge’s first at-bat back at home resulted in a no-doubt home run to left, launched against a Eury Pérez slider that did not slide. The two-run shot from Judge — who has begun his season strangely, with just five hits but three dingers — put the Yankees ahead to stay.
“Our lineup’s a beast,” said Warren, who allowed two solo home runs and was barely touched otherwise in 5 ²/₃ innings. “You know we’re going to put up runs.”
And after that Judge blast, the Yankees were off and running — which we mean literally.
The Yankees scored two more in the second, when Jazz Chisholm Jr. and José Caballero combined for three steals and Pérez walked the bases loaded, then walked in a run, then drilled Judge for another run.
Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) pitches in the second inning when the New York Yankees played the Miami Marlins in their home opener. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Despite the 2026 Yankees being a near carbon copy of last year’s team, they have seemed more aggressive. Even Austin Wells looked agile in tagging from second base on a fly ball to left field, a nifty dive eluding a tag.
“I think we became that [aggressive club] in the second half of last season, where night in and night out, we’re rolling a good amount of some speed and some athletes out there to where that slowly became a little more of our identity,” said manager Aaron Boone, who watched the club’s athleticism peak in the ninth inning.
In a game that already was decided, Cody Bellinger sprinted backward on a deep drive from Edwards, raised his glove on the run for an over-the-shoulder attempt and watched as the ball hit off the heel of his glove. He then stabbed backwards with his glove and caught the ball, somehow, on the backhand.
“I should’ve caught it the first time,” Bellinger said with a smile.
Ben Rice went deep in the victory. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
The Yankees walked 11 times, constantly threatened and yet did not secure the game until the late innings, when Rice put it away.
After striking out in his first three at-bats, Rice first visited the short porch for a solo shot in the seventh, then came through with the Yankees’ first hit with runners in scoring position, a two-run double that made it a laugher in the eighth.
“Something I always tell myself,” Rice said, “is I want that next AB. I want the fourth, I want the fifth.”
The swings were more helpful for the environment than the Yankees’ pitching staff, which did not need the added cushion. Tim Hill (who escaped an inherited, two-on jam), Jake Bird (a clean inning in his Bronx debut), Brent Headrick and Ryan Yarbrough combined for 3 ¹/₃ perfect, four-strikeout innings, Yankees pitchers having allowed eight runs total over their first seven games.
The Yankees outfielders celebrate the home opener win. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
In just about every facet, the Yankees have opened this season crisp — including in garb. On Thursday night, Judge texted his teammates, “Hey, suits tomorrow,” Warren relayed.
For the home opener, they responded by dressing and playing as sharply as the new scoreboard.