Aaron Judge credits “unfinished business” for huge spring training debut

New York Yankees star Aaron Judge this spring it didn’t take long to be reflected. In his first game back, Judge hit two home runs and set the tone as he prepares for next month’s World Baseball Classic.

The referee made an immediate impact with his first spring training game by hitting two two-run home runs against the Detroit Tigers. His big day helped the Yankees to a 20-3 victory at Steinbrenner Field on Saturday. Judge finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs.

“We have a lot of unfinished business”

Aaron Judge has his eye on the prize in the coming period @VBCBaseball and the 2026 season 🏆 pic.twitter.com/MMCluOFzOP

— MLB (@MLB) February 21, 2026

33 year old spoke about what makes him go into the new year and the busy part ahead.

“We have the WBC coming up, which I’m excited about, and an exciting season for the Yankees,” Judge said after the game, according to the Associated Press. “We have a lot of unfinished business from last season, especially the way it ended for us. I’m just trying to put myself in the best position to help this team win a lot of games.”

Judge was a no-show for the Yankees’ spring training opener against the Baltimore Orioles, and his absence was noticeable. New York fell 2-0 on Friday, ace Pete Alonso caught the eye with an impressive debut performance for Baltimore.

Last season, the Yankees won 94 games, the same as in 2024 when they won the AL East and reached the World Series. In 2025, 94 wins was not enough to win the division, as the Toronto Blue Jays finished with the same record and won the AL East in a head-to-head tiebreaker. The two teams met in the ALDS, where Toronto outlasted New York, scoring 34 runs and sweeping the series in four games.

The three-time MVP made it clear that last season’s playoff exit against the Blue Jays is still fresh in his mind. The disappointment has stayed with him, and it’s fueling his focus as the Yankees look to finish what they couldn’t last year.

Looking ahead, even if Judge doesn’t get many reps in right field this spring, he will have plenty of opportunities at the World Baseball Classic, where he serves as the captain of Team USA.

Meanwhile, last season, Judge split time between right field and DH, although he spent most of his time in the outfield. The back-to-back AL MVP played 95 games in right field, starting every one of them.

Overall, Judge posted a .331 batting average with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs that led to another MVP award.