After a fan shouted, "Swing the bat!" while Judge took two straight pitches from reigning American League Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, the Yankees' captain, wasted no time. Judge stepped up and blasted the ball over the outfield fence, silencing any critics and energizing the watching crowd, according to a video posted by MLB.com's Bryan Hoch.

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 reigning AL MVP, Yankees' slugger Aaron Judge isn't likely to find his way into the club's spring training lineup until Feb. 28 or March 1.