The New York Yankees are still waiting for Carlos Rodon to make his presence felt but his injuries are prolonging his MLB debut in pinstripes. His recovery process has been interrupted by back pain and the Yankees’ biggest pitching of the offseason had to stop pitching. Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton is unhappy for getting injured so frequently.
Carlos Rodon to undergo scan
The left-handed hitter’s initial absence was due to a strain in his left forearm, but Carlos Rodon has since made a full recovery. However, nagging back pain is the latest problem stopping his return.
His bullpen session on Monday was marred by back stiffness, so he went in for a CT scan. In spite of the “normal” test results, Yankee manager Aaron Boone has decided to have Rodon undergo another CT scan and keep him from throwing for a few more days. Boone thinks it’s not a big deal, though.
“Everything, structurally, with the back looks fine,” Boone said to the media. “The situation looks like more of a nagging, little couple-day thing, so he’s not going to throw for the next couple days.”
On December 21, 2022, Carlos Rodon inked a six-year, $162 million deal with the Yankees. His first six seasons were marred by injuries, but in 2021 and 2022, he finally had a couple of healthy seasons in which he was able to make the All-Star squad.
The southpaw has been sidelined since March with a left forearm strain, and there is currently no timeline for his return due to the back injury.
Giancarlo Stanton calls injury “unacceptable”
Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees’ hardest hitter, is not happy over his recurrent injuries. He will not be able to play for the team at least for six weeks following the hamstring strain that has put him on the disabled list. While talking to the press on Thursday, Giancarlo Stanton said it’s “unacceptable” that his body is failing him “this often.”
“The team relies on me and I can’t have this continue to happen and put us in a tough spot weren’t prepared for. It’s my duty and responsibility to be out there,” he added.
After his departure from Saturday’s victory over the Minnesota Twins, Giancarlo Stanton was placed on the injured list the next day, Sunday. A Grade 2 hamstring strain will sideline him at least until early June.
Giancarlo Stanton’s MLB career has been plagued by injuries, particularly since he was acquired by the Yankees. After starting out well in his debut year in New York by appearing in 158 games, he went on to miss 256 games over the next four seasons due to injury.
Giancarlo Stanton missed 223 games in the last four seasons. He went out of the 2019 season following a strained right biceps and then a right knee problem. Next year, a strained left hamstring forced him out. The Yankees sent him to the injured list in May 2021 after he suffered a strained left quadriceps muscle. Giancarlo Stanton had a right ankle injury in May 2022. Two months later in July, he was again on the injured list for Achilles tendinitis.
It’s to be expected that the 33-year-old’s durability would decline with age. While with the Miami Marlins from 2011-2017, the five-time All-Star appeared in fewer than 130 games only three times.
One of the best power hitters in MLB, Giancarlo Stanton hit four home runs in 52 at-bats this season before injuring his hamstring. Stanton hit 31 home runs in 110 games last year. The Yankees have shown they can progress without Stanton for extended stretches during the regular season. However, having a player of his tremendous power in the lineup boosts their offensive potential.
Until Giancarlo Stanton returns, Yankees manager Aaron Boone will likely adopt face a DH headache. In the last two games, Gleyber Torres and Willie Calhoun became the designated hitter.
