NEW YORK — The New York Yankees are ready to take a calculated gamble with Giancarlo Stanton’s health in the name of run production. Nearly two years after his last outfield start, the slugger could return to right field Saturday against the Houston Astros — a move born of necessity as the team fights to keep its postseason position.
First outfield start since 2023 in sight
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Stanton has not started in the outfield since Sept. 14, 2023. Years of lower-body injuries, including hamstring, quad, calf and knee issues, kept him locked into a designated hitter role. Now, with Aaron Judge limited to DH duties while building up arm strength after a flexor strain, Stanton’s glove may be the only way to keep both stars in the lineup.
Manager Aaron Boone said Friday there is a “good chance” Stanton starts in right field, pending how he feels after pregame defensive work. During batting practice, Stanton took reps with outfield coach Luis Rojas, fielding grounders, shagging fly balls, working balls off the wall, and handling right-field corner plays.
Giancarlo Stanton is doing outfield work this afternoon.
Aaron Boone said pregame that there's a "good chance" Stanton will play in the outfield tomorrow pic.twitter.com/wZOjBIDCR5
“He’s always been a quality outfielder,” Boone said. “Some range is going to be limited, obviously, but I do feel like he’ll make the plays that need to be made.”
A monitored ramp-up for Stanton
For more than a week, Stanton has been steadily increasing his defensive workload. Friday marked his most intense session yet. While he no longer runs at full speed, his movements are calculated, a method aimed at reducing injury risk.
Rojas, who has overseen Stanton’s drills, likes what he sees. “He looks progressively good,” Rojas said. “He’s a veteran guy. You got to trust how he feels.”
Stanton has been honest about his physical state, something Boone values. “He’s usually very blunt and honest about if he feels like he can do it or not,” Boone said. “It’s never risk free, but we do feel like he should be in position to handle it on a limited basis.”
The risk factor
UPI
The Yankees are not blind to the dangers. Stanton has played more than 114 games in a season just once since 2019. Even last year, while protected from outfield duty, he strained his left hamstring running the bases. This season, elbow tendinitis in both arms delayed his debut until mid-June.
Still, his recent offensive form makes the decision harder to resist. Stanton entered Friday with nine home runs and a 1.039 OPS over his last 21 games, the hottest bat in the Yankees’ order. Boone admitted the team would not expose him to what they consider “big-time risk,” but conceded that “anything’s possible” once a player takes the field.
Impact on the lineup
If Stanton starts in right field, the Yankees will need to shuffle the outfield. Cody Bellinger could shift to center or left, with Trent Grisham or Jasson Domínguez likely to sit. Against left-hander Framber Valdez, Domínguez appears the likeliest to come out of the lineup due to his weaker defensive metrics and the matchup disadvantage from his left-handed bat.
Judge, meanwhile, is progressing but remains without a clear timetable for defensive return. He is currently throwing from 90 feet and could increase that distance over the weekend. Until then, Stanton’s outfield appearances may be the only way to maximize the Yankees’ power potential.
Not a permanent shift
Boone stressed that Stanton’s outfield return will be occasional.
“We’ve kind of spent the week, 10 days, ramping it up and seeing how he’s doing with it, seeing how he feels about it,” Boone said. “We wouldn’t put him in a situation where we felt like there was big-time risk.”
Aaron Boone is asked if he believes Giancarlo Stanton will be able to move well in the outfield:
"Some range is going to be limited, obviously, but I do feel like he'll make the plays that need to be made" pic.twitter.com/uugW8jEP00
“He doesn’t want to be a liability for the team. He just wants to be out there and help the team win,” Rojas said. “He wants to be a player for us on the defensive side. So, he’s excited to show he can do that.”
High stakes in the playoff race
The Yankees have been clinging to a slim lead for the final American League wild card spot. Every game down the stretch matters, and keeping their two biggest power threats in the lineup is a priority. Since mid-June, the team has struggled to maintain consistency, and Stanton’s bat has often been the difference between winning and losing.
Saturday’s matchup against Houston will offer a glimpse into how far the Yankees are willing to push their stars for offensive gain. If Stanton comes through without incident, it could open a short-term path to stronger lineups while Judge finishes his throwing program.
If it backfires, the Yankees risk losing one of their most productive hitters at the most critical point of the season.
For now, the decision is in motion. Stanton’s glove is ready, his legs are tested, and the Yankees are betting that calculated risk is worth the potential reward.
