Giancarlo Stanton Nears Return to the Outfield
New York Yankees player Giancarlo Stanton is about to return to the outfield, marking the first time in almost two years that the slugger will play in that position. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed this news on Friday, generating excitement among fans. Stanton has had limited playing time while Aaron Judge, who is recovering from a right elbow flexor tendon injury, has been acting as the designated hitter. On Friday, Stanton was not in the lineup for the third consecutive game at the start of the series against the Houston Astros.The last time Stanton played in the outfield was September 14, 2023, in Boston. His last outfield appearance at Yankee Stadium was September 9, 2023, against Milwaukee. After missing the first 70 games of the season due to inflammation in the tendons of both elbows, Stanton has been a designated hitter in 32 games. His only appearance since Judge returned from his injury was as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning on Tuesday, where he hit into a double play. On Friday, Stanton practiced for about 45 minutes in batting practice, fielding fly balls and ground balls from third base coach Luis Rojas.“There’s a good chance you’ll see him tomorrow,” Boone commented on Friday.
Aaron Boone
Aaron Judge also joined Stanton in the outfield, beginning a throwing program on Wednesday. Judge threw soft tosses from about 90 feet, in addition to fielding fly balls, and will continue to increase his activity before returning to the outfield. Since arriving at the Yankees in December 2017, Stanton has not played more than 72 games in the field and has only participated in 71 games as an outfielder since the start of the 2022 season.“He’s always been a quality gardener. Obviously, his range will be limited, but I think he’ll make the necessary plays,” Boone added.
Aaron Boone
So far this season, Stanton is batting .268 with 10 home runs and 28 RBIs in 37 games. During Judge’s absence, he hit four home runs in nine games. Stanton hasn’t played a full season since 2018, his first year after the Yankees acquired him from Miami. Before his debut this season, he had missed 364 of 940 games since the start of the 2019 season. The 35-year-old player appeared in 114 games last season, batting .233 with 27 home runs and 72 RBIs. In 14 postseason games, he hit seven home runs and was named Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series. Stanton, who signed a record contract of $325 million for 13 years with the Marlins, had 59 home runs and 132 RBIs in 2017, winning the National League MVP award. He was traded to the Yankees and had 38 home runs and 100 RBIs in his first season in the Bronx. Throughout his career, Stanton has suffered several injuries, including: a strain in the right biceps and a posterior cruciate ligament strain in the right knee (2019), a strain in the left hamstring (2020), a strain in the left quadriceps (2021), inflammation in the right ankle and left Achilles tendinitis (2022) and a strain in the left hamstring (2023 and 2024).“There’s always risk when you play. We wouldn’t put him in a situation if we felt there was a great risk. That being said, anything is possible, but I think he’s in a good place to do it in a limited fashion and that’s why we’ve spent the week, 10 days, ramping it up and seeing how he is, how he feels about it. He’s generally very direct and honest about whether he feels he can do it or not. It’s never risk-free, but I think he should be in a position to handle it in a limited fashion,” Boone explained.
Aaron Boone
