As the season’s first pitch draws near, the New York Yankees are confronting an unwelcome recurring theme: the health struggles of power hitter Giancarlo Stanton. The veteran slugger’s ongoing injury woes have cast a shadow over his availability for the 2025 campaign, with no clear timeline for his return to the lineup.
“We’re all hopeful that we can get [Stanton] back down the line,” Yankees GM Brian Cashman told on Saturday. “But that’s not in the near term.”
At 35, Stanton is currently battling tears in both elbows—injuries that initially surfaced during the 2024 season before intensifying again in the offseason, bringing his January training regimen to an abrupt halt. Since mid-February, the five-time All-Star has undergone a series of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments, but as of March 22, Yankees officials remain uncertain whether these interventions will yield the desired results.
“He’s going through the rehab phase of it where he’s getting treatment and care in the athletic training room, so he’s isolated in there,” general manager Brian Cashman told reporters before Saturday’s spring game in Tampa. “We hope [the PRP] works, but it’s certainly too early to tell. I spent some time with him this morning. He’s in good spirits.”
Manager Aaron Boone echoed a similar sentiment earlier this month: “The biggest thing is getting him right, and if that costs us a little bit on the front end, so be it. I do feel like we’ll get to a good spot with this. It’s a long year.”
Yankees played Stanton through pain
Though surgery might seem the logical next step given the severity of his condition, Stanton has thus far rejected this option, believing it would eliminate any possibility of playing in 2025. However, Dr. Spencer Stein, an orthopedic specialist with NYU Langone Health, previously indicated to NJ Advance Media that surgical intervention may eventually become necessary, particularly given the persistent nature of Stanton’s elbow problems.
Further complicating matters, Stanton has developed ongoing calf discomfort. This additional issue prompted an 11-day visit to New York during spring preparations to consult with specialists—a trip initially described by the organization as “personal.” The Yankees subsequently acknowledged that during this New York visit, Stanton received additional PRP injections in both elbows.
Remarkably, Stanton’s injury narrative extends back through the 2024 season, when he quietly competed through escalating elbow discomfort. What began as pain in one arm eventually affected both, significantly limiting his swing mechanics. Despite these constraints, the slugger managed to post respectable numbers: a .233 average with 27 home runs and 72 RBIs across 114 regular-season appearances.
His postseason performance proved even more remarkable. Through 14 playoff contests, he batted .273 while launching seven home runs and driving in 16 runs. His first World Series appearance featured two home runs and five RBIs, though the Yankees ultimately fell to the Dodgers in five games.
Internal solutions for the DH vacancy
With Stanton certain to begin the season on the injured list, the Yankees are evaluating in-house candidates to fill the designated hitter role. Ben Rice and rookie J.C. Escarra have emerged as the primary contenders to assume those at-bats in the immediate future.
Nevertheless, as weeks pass without tangible progress, optimism continues to wane. Stanton has yet to resume any baseball-related activities—whether hitting, throwing or fielding drills—and continues working exclusively with the medical team.
Chronicling Stanton setbacks
- January: Stanton discontinues offseason conditioning due to bilateral elbow pain.
- Feb. 16: Boone discloses that Stanton’s preparation schedule is delayed by “elbow stuff” comparable to tennis elbow.
- Feb. 17: Stanton publicly reveals he competed through pain for much of 2024 and that his elbow issues resurfaced during January batting practice.
- Feb. 24: Stanton undergoes an initial round of PRP injections in New York.
- March 2: Yankees confirm Stanton will start the season on the injured list.
- March 5 & 10: Second and third rounds of PRP treatments administered.
- March 14: Chronic calf discomfort becomes apparent.
- March 22: Cashman acknowledges there remains no schedule for Stanton to resume baseball activities.
Broader implications for the future
Stanton’s ability to stay healthy has remained a persistent concern throughout his Yankees tenure. Since arriving in New York in 2018, the power hitter has exceeded 120 games in a season just once. Soft-tissue injuries—primarily affecting his hamstrings, quadriceps, and now elbows—have repeatedly disrupted his availability.
Despite these ongoing challenges, Stanton remains under contract through the 2027 season, with a team option for 2028. He’s set to earn approximately $98 million over the next three seasons, with the Miami Marlins continuing to contribute $10 million annually toward his compensation.
With his outfield capabilities already restricted in recent seasons, and uncertainty now surrounding his effectiveness even as a designated hitter, the Yankees must prepare for the 2025 campaign—and potentially beyond—without consistent contributions from one of their most expensive roster investments.
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