BRONX, NY — New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has responded well to PRP injections in both of his elbows and has begun swinging a bat, manager Aaron Boone revealed on Thursday, just hours before first pitch on Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Stanton has been sidelined with tennis elbow in both arms, which began acting up in the earliest portions of spring training. It sidelined him for the entirety of the exhibition season, which included a trip back to New York to receive one of two rounds of PRP injections.
There still is no concrete timetable on when he could potentially return.
“He’s doing pretty well,” Boone said. “I think we’ve all been encouraged by the last couple of weeks. Still no timetable on anything, but he’s been able to swing the bat, and feel like there’s been steady improvement day after day. Encouraged about that the last couple weeks, but we still have a long way to go.”
Injuries continue to plague the veteran designated hitter, who played a significant role in leading the Yankees to their first American League pennant in 15 years last fall. He slashed .273/.339/.709 with seven homers and 16 RBI in 14 postseason games, which included ALCS MVP honors.
He is one of an alarming number of Yankees who have been bitten by the injury bug this spring. Ace pitcher Gerrit Cole is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier this month while reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil will miss at least three months with a lat strain.
Veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu, who was tabbed to start the season at third base, is also sidelined with a calf issue, which has prompted Oswaldo Cabrera to step in at the hot corner.
In Stanton’s absence, the Yankees are beginning the year with Ben Rice at the DH spot. The 26-year-old lefty was given the nod on Opening Day after hitting five home runs in 20 spring training games.
