New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes and PWHL Boston Fleet goaltender Aerin Frankel will have the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitches at the New York Yankees’ home opener on April 3rd.

Yankees Home Opener Details

The Yankees will face the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium, with the game scheduled to begin at 1:35 p.m. EST. Pregame festivities, including the introduction of both teams, are set to start around 1:00 p.m. EST.

Olympic Gold Medal Recognition

Hughes and Frankel were selected for this honor following their pivotal roles in Team USA’s success at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Both the men’s and women’s U.S. hockey teams secured gold medals, marking a historic achievement for American winter sports.

Hughes' Game-Winning Goal

Jack Hughes scored the overtime-winning goal in the men’s gold medal game, leading the U.S. to a 2-1 victory over Canada. He completed the game-winning goal at 1:41 into overtime.

Frankel's Stellar Goaltending

Aerin Frankel was instrumental in the women’s team’s gold medal win, also against Canada with a 2-1 score. Throughout the entire 2026 Winter Olympics, Frankel only allowed two goals.

Yankees Tradition and Additional Events

The Yankees boast an impressive 82-40-1 record in home openers throughout franchise history, having won seven of their last nine since 2017. Hughes, a known Yankees fan, previously attended a game in 2019.

Tony Award winner Nikki M. James will perform the national anthem, and the U.S. Army West Point Honor Guard will present the colors.

Player Achievements

Since returning to the NHL, Hughes has accumulated 414 career points with 163 goals and 251 assists. He recently became the fastest player in New Jersey Devils history to reach 400 points, achieving this milestone in just 414 games on March 16, 2026. Frankel, a native of Chappaqua, New York, made 30 saves in the gold medal game.

This marks the first time in U.S. and Olympic history that both the men’s and women’s hockey teams have won gold medals in the same Winter Games.