New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has not swung a bat all spring, and it does not look like he is going to any time soon.
Stanton, 35, entered spring training with discomfort in both his elbows and has yet to participate in baseball activities. The designated hitter has flown back to New York to undergo medical testing; he will meet with team physician Chris Ahmad later today, though it is not confirmed that it is regarding his elbows.
“This visit will likely include new testing and a review of Stanton’s treatment options,” NJ.com’s Randy Miller reported. “Surgery would be the last line of defense but has so far not been seriously considered.”
Aaron Boone, the club’s manager, first announced Stanton’s injury when position players reported to Tampa last week. The Yankee skipper likened Stanton’s injury to “tennis elbow” and explained that the team intended to “slow play” him during the spring.
While he wasn’t sure if Stanton would be available for Opening Day, Boone said, “I’m expecting him to be okay. It’s just a matter of when we want to start really rolling it out to give us the best chance to get as much of him as we can.”
But as the week developed, “slow play” amounted to no play at all. Aside from some light agility drills, Stanton has yet to pick up a bat or a glove. On Sunday, Boone added that there was “nothing imminent” regarding Stanton’s return to baseball activities.
Stanton was nothing short of a superhero last October. In 14 postseason games, the ALCS MVP crushed seven home runs and boasted a 1.048 OPS to help propel the Bronx Bombers to their first World Series berth in 15 years.
The Yankees are already entering the 2025 season with a Juan Soto-sized hole in their lineup. If they want to return to the Fall Classic this season, they cannot afford to lose another one of their premier sluggers – especially their most reliable postseason performer – for an extended period of time.
