Yankees Fans Rage Over Boone's Spring Training Lineup

Fans criticize manager Aaron Boone's decision to field a lineup of lesser-known players in the first spring training game against the Orioles.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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New York Yankees fans are up in arms over manager Aaron Boone's decision to field a lineup of non-roster invitees and minor leaguers in the team's first spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles. While it's common for managers to rest their star players early in the exhibition season, some fans are using social media to "rage-bait" others by overreacting to the lineup.

Why it matters

The Yankees have high expectations for the 2026 season, and their fans are known for being passionate and vocal about the team's performance. Boone's lineup decisions, even in meaningless spring training games, can draw intense scrutiny and criticism from the fanbase.

The details

The Yankees' lineup featured several players who are not household names, including first baseman Ernesto Martinez Jr., left fielder Marco Luciano, right fielder Duke Ellis, center fielder Kenedy Corona, and catcher Ali Sanchez. While these players are fighting for roster spots, their inclusion in the starting lineup on opening day of spring training has riled up some Yankees fans on social media.

  • The Yankees played the Orioles on February 20, 2026.

The players

Aaron Boone

The manager of the New York Yankees.

Ernesto Martinez Jr.

A non-roster invite first baseman who hit six home runs in 80 games at Triple-A with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Marco Luciano

A former top prospect of the San Francisco Giants who was designated for assignment three times this offseason.

Duke Ellis

A speedster with just one career plate appearance with the Yankees in 2024.

Kenedy Corona

A player who made three appearances with the Houston Astros last season but did not record a hit in four plate appearances.

Ali Sanchez

A catcher with 50 games logged at the Major League level since 2020.

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What they’re saying

“Bro what is this lineup! What is Booone doing!!”

— Evan Daniel (Twitter)

What’s next

The Yankees will continue their spring training schedule with additional games against the Orioles and other opponents in the coming weeks, giving Boone a chance to evaluate more players and determine the final roster for Opening Day.

The takeaway

While it's common for managers to rest their star players early in the exhibition season, the passionate Yankees fanbase is quick to criticize any lineup decisions, even in meaningless spring training games. This highlights the intense scrutiny and pressure that comes with managing one of the most high-profile teams in baseball.