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The New York Yankees announced a change with Aaron Judge.

The New York Yankees are looking to keep their hot streak going, but the club is also pacing Aaron Judge amid a long MLB season. New York announced a key change with Judge hours before the team’s April 29, 2026, matchup against the Texas Rangers.

The Yankees revealed that Judge will be the team’s designated hitter against the Rangers. New York is starting Jasson Domínguez at left field as Judge focuses on hitting.

Judge is hitting third behind center fielder Trent Grisham and first baseman Ben Rice. Dominguez is hitting sixth in the lineup against the Rangers.

Here’s what you need to know about the latest Yankees news.

The Yankees Have Been Hard to Stop With Aaron Judge & Ben Rice

Judge is hitting .262 through his first 30 appearances, which would be his lowest batting average since 2020. The Yankees star is still hitting with power as Judge has already notched 12 home runs and 20 RBIs.

Judge is enjoying hitting behind Rice amid his hot start to the season.

“Hitting right behind him now, it makes my job easier,” Judge said of Rice, per Yahoo Sports.

The feeling appears to be mutual as Judge also takes a lot of the pressure off Rice.

“I enjoy hitting in the order with him,” Rice noted. “Whether I’m in front of him or behind him, I think there’s different scenarios where either way works, but anytime I could be near him in the lineup is a good one.”

Yankees News: SS George Lombard Jr. Is 1 Step Closer to Playing in MLB

The Yankees are going for a three-game sweep of the Rangers. Heading into the final game of the series, the Yankees had won nine of their last ten games.

New York could soon have even more help in the lineup with the presence of a highly touted prospect. George Lombard Jr. has been promoted to Triple A, meaning the shortstop is just one step away from being on the Yankees roster in the Big Leagues.

“He’s obviously gotten off to a really good start in Double A,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Lombard, per The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner. “Love the player. Love the person.

“After finishing last year in Double A and then going out and wanting him to get off to a good start — which he has — I think it’s good timing to get him up to Triple A.”

Aaron Judge on George Lombard Jr.: ‘He’s Got Some Juice’

Lombard was selected by the Yankees in the first round of the 2023 MLB draft. Judge is bullish on Lombard’s trajectory amid his recent move up to Triple A.

“He made some big adjustments from the past couple of years,” Judge noted, per The Athletic. “He’s gonna play elite defense at third, shortstop, wherever.

“At the plate, man, using the whole field, great contact hitter, but he’s got some juice behind it. He’s gonna continue to grow and get stronger and continue to develop into that power a little bit. He’s seeing the consistency at the plate, just good at-bats at such a young age.”