ST. LOUIS — The New York Yankees’ gamble to reintroduce Giancarlo Stanton to right field has hit a troubling snag, forcing the team to confront the very outcome they hoped to avoid.
After playing the outfield in three straight games earlier this week, Stanton has now missed three consecutive days of action, including Saturday’s 12-8 win over the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
The decision to insert Stanton back into the field, intended to keep his bat in the lineup while Aaron Judge is limited to designated hitter duties, is now under review after the slugger struggled to recover physically.
Recovery issues after brief outfield return
“It was just a little tougher recovering after the last one,” manager Aaron Boone said Saturday, referring to Stanton’s start in right field on Wednesday.
Boone confirmed the recovery setback is related to Stanton’s lower body — not his ongoing battle with tennis elbow in both arms — and described the discomfort as a consequence of the sudden physical demands.
“I don’t think it’s anything big,” Boone added. “It’s like spring training. That’s why we play them four and five innings to start and give them days off. You’ve got to build that bandwidth.”
Despite the optimism, Stanton has not appeared in a game since Wednesday. He was available off the bench Friday and reportedly prepared to pinch hit in the later innings, though he was not used.
Boone keeps cautious stance
Boone stressed the importance of managing Stanton’s health closely and said the decision to rest him was mutual.
“I don’t want to scrap him [in the outfield] altogether,” Boone said. “But we’re trying to be mindful and careful and smart about it. He and I talked closely going into it. If we have any issues, let’s get out in front of it as best we can.”
The Yankees had not used Stanton in the field since 2022 before this week’s series against the Twins. He started four of five games in right field, including three in a row from Monday through Wednesday, a stretch that ultimately led to the current setback.
On Saturday, Jose Caballero made his second consecutive start in right field as Stanton remained sidelined.
Stanton’s resurgence at the plate
Since returning from the injured list on June 16, Stanton has been one of the Yankees’ most productive hitters. Entering Saturday, he was slashing .299/.361/.588 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs across 43 games.
In his last 27 games, Stanton batted .344 with 11 homers, 27 RBIs, and 17 runs scored, solidifying his place in the heart of the lineup.
That offensive surge made his presence in the lineup essential, which is why the Yankees opted to test his outfield availability after Judge returned from the injured list.
Judge still limited to DH
Judge, who missed 10 games with a right elbow flexor strain, has yet to resume playing defense. Boone said there is still no timetable for when the two-time MVP will return to the outfield.
Judge continues to progress through a throwing program that began August 6. After starting at 60 feet, he extended to 150 feet on Friday in St. Louis.
“When the trainers give it a thumbs up, we’ll be good to go,” Boone said.
Until then, Judge remains the primary designated hitter, which complicates lineup construction for Boone.
Limited options for Yankees staff
With both Judge and Stanton unable to handle defensive duties, the Yankees face a challenging balancing act. Stanton’s presence as a pinch hitter remains valuable, but the risk of further injury appears too high to justify regular outfield assignments at this stage.
The decision to play Stanton in the field was made out of necessity, not preference. Boone reiterated that the Yankees would continue evaluating Stanton’s physical response on a day-by-day basis.
“We’ll just see,” Boone said. “We’re kind of taking it one day at a time.”
Long-term concerns linger
Stanton’s history with soft-tissue injuries, particularly involving his hamstrings, calves, and quads, has made the organization especially cautious.
His last sustained stretch in the outfield came in 2020. Since then, the Yankees have mostly used him as a DH to preserve his health.
Now, with the team in a tight playoff race, every decision carries more weight. Entering Sunday, the Yankees are 66-57 and hold the third wild-card spot in the American League.
Caballero’s ability to step in has provided short-term coverage in the outfield, but it’s unclear how long the team can rely on a rotating cast to fill such a vital position.
Stanton’s status for Sunday remains uncertain
Boone did not confirm whether Stanton would be available for Sunday’s series finale against St. Louis. The manager left open the possibility that Stanton could return to the field or at least to pinch-hitting duties depending on how he feels.
For now, Stanton’s condition has forced the Yankees into reactive mode — the exact scenario they aimed to avoid.
His recent surge at the plate has only heightened the frustration over his limited availability. With postseason hopes riding on consistent production, the Yankees are left juggling health, performance, and risk in a lineup that suddenly feels stretched again.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
How can a professional Athlete be this broken down for years? I just don’t understand how can a young person be so broken for so long. Can someone answer this?