NEW YORK — Giancarlo Stanton, the designated hitter for the New York Yankees, confirmed this Wednesday that he could return to the team at the end of the month, a day after participating in a live batting practice, a significant step in his return from the injured list.
Stanton participated in live batting practice on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium, the first time he has faced live pitching this year, after being sidelined due to tendinitis in both elbows at the start of spring training. He saw 10 pitches, hitting a ground ball to the shortstop and getting a walk on a full count in his two appearances against right-handed pitcher Jake Cousins.
Last week, the Yankees moved Stanton from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list, which delayed his possible return date to May 27. This was a procedural move for New York, which needed a spot on the 40-man roster to claim Bryan De La Cruz and Stanton was not in condition to return before the end of the month.
Stanton, 35, said he expects to go on a rehab assignment. He does not have a target date to begin one and does not know how long it will last. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Stanton likely will not need a long rehab assignment because he does not play a defensive position.
It depends on what kind of arms are available [for live batting practice sessions], and how I feel in those at-bats.
Giancarlo Stanton
Stanton, who took batting practice on the field Wednesday, has undergone rounds of injections to treat pain in his elbows and reiterated that he will have to play through pain whenever he returns.
If I’m out there, I’m good enough to play, and there are no levels of anything else.
Giancarlo Stanton
Stanton’s elbow issues date back to last season; he played through the pain during the World Series, hitting seven home runs in 14 postseason games. But he said he stopped hitting altogether in January due to severe elbow pain and didn’t take any at-bats again until March. At one point, Stanton said season-ending surgery was possible, but that was ruled out.
I know when G is there, he’s ready to play. He won’t be there if he doesn’t feel like he can be really productive, so I know when that time comes, when he’s ready to do it, we should be in a good situation.
Aaron Boone
And hopefully, we’ve done some things, in the latter part of winter and in the spring, that will prepare him to be able to do it physically and endure it. But also understanding that he will probably have to deal with some things.
