Yankees Spring Training schedule: 5 dates fans should circle on their calendars

The wait is almost over for the New York Yankees and their fans. Full-squad workouts have begun in Tampa, and now we're just days away from the beginning of games as Spring Training gets underway this weekend.

Of course, 34 Spring Training games is a lot of baseball, much of which involves players who won't mean much of anything to the Yankees in 2026 or beyond. That's why we've put together a handy guide, to tell you which games you shouldn't miss out on and how to watch all the action.

Yankees Spring Training schedule: Most important dates for fans to know

The opener: Feb. 20 at Orioles

The road to title No. 28 begins on Friday, as the Yankees kick off their 2026 season with their first Spring Training game in Sarasota against the Baltimore Orioles. It's unclear just how many of New York's regulars will be in the lineup — with a home game the very next day, don't expect Aaron Judge to be riding a bus up the Gulf Coast — but that doesn't mean there isn't anything to watch for. Elmer Rodriguez, the team's top pitching prospect, is penciled in as the starting pitcher; while the 22-year-old has thrown just five innings above Double-A, he could find himself in the Majors sooner rather than later given all the injury questions in New York's rotation right now.

The home opener: Feb. 21 vs. Tigers

The Yankees will play their home opener one day later, welcoming the Detroit Tigers to George M. Stienbrenner Field in Tampa. This will also likely double as a preview of New York's Opening Day lineup, with the likes of Judge, Giancarlo Stanton (fully healthy, at least for now), Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice potentially in action. Will they get to take some cuts against two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal? That remains to be seen, but fans might be able to get a glimpse of young Detroit infielder Kevin McGonigle — a consensus top-three prospect in the sport looking to a win a job this spring.

Pre-World Baseball Classic tune-up: Mar. 3 vs. Panama

The World Baseball Classic is back this year, running from the opening of pool play on Mar. 5 through the championship game on Mar. 17. Judge, Chisholm and other Yankees will be stepping away from camp to take part in the competition, but before that, New York is one of several teams slated to play exhibition games against various national teams. The Yankees will take on Panama on Mar. 3, a matchup that will force Panamian infielder Jose Caballero to switch locker rooms.

A glimpse at present and future stars: Mar. 9 vs. Pirates, Mar. 23 at Pirates

While Yankees fans are no doubt anxious to see how their own team is progressing ahead of Opening Day, one of the treats of Spring Training is getting to watch star players (and future star players) you might not ordinarily get to see during the regular season. Which is why we've circled a couple of matchups against the Pittsburgh Pirates, one in Tampa on Mar. 9 and one on the road in Bradenton on Mar. 23. Not only might Paul Skenes pitch an inning or two in one of those games, but it could also give Yankees fans a chance to watch 19-year-old Pirates phenom Konnor Griffin — not just the best prospect in baseball right now but one of the best we've seen in a long time.

Spring Breakout: Mar. 21 vs. Braves

The Spring Breakout showcase, in which all 30 teams put together rosters full of their top prospects to square off against each other, has become a staple of March over the last couple of years. It's back for a third edition in 2026, and this time the Yankees prospects will be taking on youngsters from the Atlanta Braves.

Last year saw George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones atop the lineup and top pitching prospects like Carlos Lagrange on the mound. What will New York's farm system have in store for an encore?

Prelude to Opening Day: Mar. 23-24 at Cubs (Sloan Park, Ariz.)

The Yankees will begin the 2026 regular season on the West Coast this year, with an Opening Day tilt against the San Francisco Giants. In order to help ease the transition across the country, they'll be starting the trip a bit early, stopping in Mesa, Ariz., for two final Spring Training games against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park. New York rarely gets out of Florida in the spring, so this will be a chance to not only catch a glimpse of some interleague action but also take in one of the better venues in the Cactus League.

How to watch the Yankees in MLB spring training: Full schedule

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