Mar 3, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) looks on as he warms up against the Pittsburgh Pirates at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

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Yankees spring training: First glimpse of Opening Day lineup against Minnesota Twins?

Austin Wells leading off?

Did the Yankees just reveal their Opening Day lineup? It sure looks like it. With Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu both officially ruled out for March 27, most of the Yankees’ defensive placements seem locked in. The only real question left is the batting order.

Anthony Volpe spent a good chunk of last season leading off (though he wasn’t really up to the mark), and there’s been speculation that Jazz Chisholm Jr. could take over that spot in 2025. But if this lineup is any indication, Austin Wells might get the nod instead, at least for the start.

Aaron Judge is back in the No. 2 spot, while the Yankees have stacked their lineup with speed, contact, and athleticism in the lower half – Jazz Chisholm Jr. at five, Volpe at six, Jasson Dominguez at seven, Trent Grisham at eight, and Oswaldo Cabrera rounding things out at nine. Meanwhile, Cody Bellinger gets a look at third base while Paul Goldschmidt slots in as the cleanup hitter.

Yankees lineup vs. Twins

Austin Wells (C)
Aaron Judge (DH)
Cody Bellinger (RF)
Paul Goldschmidt (1B)
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (2B)
Anthony Volpe (SS)
Jasson Dominguez (LF)
Trent Grisham (CF)
Oswaldo Cabrera (3B)

Starting Pitcher: Gerrit Cole

The two safest bets in this lineup are Gerrit Cole starting and Aaron Judge batting second. Everything else is subject to change.

For starters, Jasson Dominguez hasn’t exactly been a reliable defensive candidate in left field, and ideally, you’d want his bat higher in the order. But who knows? Maybe Aaron Boone sees something we don’t.

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And speaking of Judge – are we really supposed to believe he won’t be playing the field on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium? That seems a little suspect. It makes for good marketing and load management, sure, but you don’t pay Aaron Judge to watch baseball from the dugout.

Also, fun fact: the Yankees have never had a regular-season lineup with a catcher batting leadoff. So if Austin Wells does take that role, history will be made.

This may be the Opening Day lineup … and the Yankees have never had a regular season lineup with a catcher batting in the leadoff spot. https://t.co/A3V7VD4oFn
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 6, 2025

Is this the Opening Day lineup? Probably not. But it’s a fascinating look at what the Yankees might be planning, and whether or not it actually sticks come March 28 remains to be seen.

Opening Day 2025

Spring Training

Yankees

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.