Looking to repeat a World Series appearance, the New York Yankees need superstar Aaron Judge to be as fresh as possible. That's why, like a handful of other veterans, Judge was held out of spring training games for the first week of camp.

With Austin Wells making his spring debut sooner than expected earlier this week and Gerrit Cole taking the mound on Friday, a few more Yankees are set for their first taste of exhibition action.

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.