Stanton Faces Live Pitching, Nears Comeback For Yankees
Stanton Faces Live Pitching, Nears Comeback For Yankees
Giancarlo Stanton could return to the Yankees' lineup for the postseason after missing five and a half months with calf strains in both legs. The slugger faced live pitching Wednesday at Double-A Somerset, taking six or seven at-bats and hitting a home run while also running the bases.
Center fielder Trent Grisham worked out alongside him, having been sidelined since straining his right hamstring on Sept. 4. With New York's minor league affiliates having finished their seasons, injured players have been conducting workouts at the Somerset facility in New Jersey. Manager Aaron Boone, speaking in a raspy voice while fighting a cold, said the sessions were "putting them on the outskirts of the conversation" regarding a possible return. bet bkfc
Stanton last played April 24 and finished his limited action with a .256 average, three home runs and 14 RBIs in 24 games. Since arriving in New York in 2018 - a season in which he hit 38 homers and drove in 100 runs and later won the American League Championship Series MVP award in 2022 - the 36-year-old former National League MVP has missed roughly 42 percent of the Yankees' games through a string of injuries, including strains to his right biceps, right knee, left hamstring, left quadriceps and both calves, along with right ankle inflammation, left Achilles tendinitis and elbow tendon issues.
Boone cautioned that any comeback would likely be limited. "You're looking more at a pinch-hit scenario," he said. "We'll see if that's even a realistic option." The Yankees are already without star outfielder Aaron Judge, who is dealing with a strained right calf. New York is projected to host Boston in a best-of-three Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday, with all three games scheduled for Yankee Stadium. Stanton is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, owed $25 million next season under a 13-year, $325 million deal that includes a $10 million buyout of a 2028 club option.
