Yankees open gates early for Giancarlo Stanton & Aaron Judge this spring

AP

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The New York Yankees will open the gates three hours before spring training home games, allowing fans to watch Aaron Judge and new teammate Giancarlo Stanton take their thwacks during batting practice.

An announcement was posted on the website of Steinbrenner Field, the team's spring training home in Tampa, Florida. The website reminds fans to "remember to bring your glove in case you get lucky!"

In the past, the Yankees opened the dates two hours before the first pitch, after the start of their batting practice.

Judge destroyed a flat-screen television with a drive during BP at Yankee Stadium last May.

Stanton, the big league home run leader with 59 and the NL MVP, was acquired from Miami in December to join Judge, voted AL Rookie of the Year after leading the AL in homers with 52.

New York plays its spring training opener under new manager Aaron Boone at home against Detroit on Feb. 23.