The New York Yankees position players arrived at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa today, but one of their premier sluggers is moving a little slower than the rest.
Manager Aaron Boone spoke with the media on Sunday, where he explained that righty DH Giancarlo Stanton is a “little behind” because of discomfort in both his elbows, according to a report from Greg Joyce of the New York Post. The Yankee skipper compared the injury to tennis elbow and noted that it’s something Stanton has been dealing with since last season, playoffs included.
The club intends to “slow-play” Stanton during spring training, and the injury could sideline the slugger for Opening Day.
“I don’t know,” Boone said when asked about how the injury could affect Stanton’s availability for the March 27 opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. “I’m not going to put any timeline on it. We’re just going to be smart with it.”
Boone later added: “I’m expecting him to be okay. It’s just a matter of when we want to start really rolling it out to give us the best chance to get as much of him as we can.”
It was with those elbows that Stanton hoisted the 2024 ALCS MVP trophy above his head last October. The 35-year-old is coming off a career-defining postseason performance in which he slashed .273/.339/.709 with seven homers and 16 RBI in 14 playoff games.
The former National League MVP has battled a multitude of injuries throughout his Yankees tenure. Last season, he strained his left hamstring for the third time in his career – and the second time in the last two seasons. He still played 114 games, where he hit .233 with 27 homers.
This is the first time Stanton’s elbows have given him trouble. And according to him, he’s in a lot of pain. He told reporters on Monday that it’s “definitely not just soreness,” and he hasn’t swung a bat in three to four weeks.
“Look, tennis elbow or whatever they call it, [there are] tears in your tendon,” he said. “So [if you ask] when did it feel good, when did it feel bad, there’s always a pain level there. You’ve got to deal with that. It’s just the wisest point to give time right now.”
On if he could be ready for Opening Day, Stanton said, “We’ll see how it goes.”
Stanton’s health will be pivotal for the Yankees this season as they hope to maintain a potent offense after losing superstar outfielder Juan Soto to the New York Mets. However, his presence in the lineup is far more crucial in October than it is in April. It’s within the best interest of the ballclub to ease Stanton into the season rather than risk further aggravation.
In addition to Stanton’s injury, Boone mentioned that outfielder Trent Grisham pulled a hamstring while training a few weeks ago. However, the Yankee manager assured reporters that “he’s actually doing really well,” adding that he’s resumed baseball activities and came into today’s workout running almost at full speed.
