The New York Yankees — already one of the best teams in the American League — are about to get stronger. Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton will reportedly make his 2025 season debut Monday, according SNY’s Andy Martino.
Stanton is expected to be in the lineup when the team takes on the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. He’ll face off against Angels starter Jose Soriano.
Stanton, 35, will return from injuries to both his elbows. Stanton was shut down during spring training due to tendonitis in both elbows. He received PRP injections to help the issue in March. He’s made steady progress since then.
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He started a rehab assignment Thursday and played in three minor-league games. Stanton had three hits in those contests, including a double.
Stanton’s return does create a potential roster crunch for the Yankees. With Stanton expected to primarily see time at designated hitter, the team will need to get creative with lefty slugger Ben Rice’s playing time. Rice hasn’t hit for a high average in 2025, but he’s provided a solid source of power. The 26-year-old is slashing .227/.311/.460, with 12 home runs, over 239 plate appearances. Rice, who played catcher in the minors, could see time at the position with Stanton back.
Since joining the Yankees in 2018, Stanton has experienced an uneven tenure with the franchise. While he put up strong numbers with the team between 2018 and 2021, injuries kept him away from the field.
Injuries remain an issue for Stanton — he’s averaged 108 games over the past three years — but he’s also started to see some age-related decline. Stanton has hit .212/.291/.454 since 2022.
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Despite that, Stanton still has moments where he looks like a power-hitting superstar. He played a major role in the team’s playoff success last season, slugging .273/.339/.709 with seven home runs in 14 postseason games. That performance wasn’t enough to lift the Yankees over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, however.
Stanton’s return comes as a crucial time for the Yankees. While the team has the second-most wins in the American League, it just got swept by the division-rival Boston Red Sox in three games.
Any sadness over that series was immediately erased when the Red Sox shockingly traded slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night. That, combined with Stanton’s return, should give the Yankees the boost they need to get back on track vs. the Angels on Monday.