Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton takes live BP
Before the Yankees’ May 6 game against San Diego in the Bronx, slugger Giancarlo Stanton took his first live BP since injuries to both elbows landed him on the injured list before the season began.
NEW YORK – Giancarlo Stanton took another step toward his return to the Yankees’ lineup.
Before Tuesday night’s game against the San Diego Padres at Yankee Stadium, the slugging designated hitter had two simulated at-bats against teammate Jake Cousins.
Manager Aaron Boone thought Stanton’s swings looked “really good” in his first live batting practice session of the year.
Stanton arrived at Yankees spring training with something akin to tennis elbow in both elbows, a condition he managed during the 2024 season.
But it flared up again, to a greater degree, during Stanton’s winter training. Stanton stopped swinging a bat around mid-to-late January and began this season on the injury list.
Stanton was transferred to the 60-day IL, putting his return timetable at late May, though the Yankees haven’t offered any specific target dates.
Stanton figures to reassume the bulk of DH duties upon his return, but that’s been the domain of Ben Rice, with a .955 OPS and eight homers in his first 31 games entering Tuesday.
Rice started at first base Tuesday, with .353-hitting veteran Paul Goldschmidt getting a rare rest. But when Stanton is ready, is it a stretch to consider using Rice occasionally in the outfield to get his bat in the lineup?
But the lefty-hitting Rice has not played a professional inning as an outfielder; he has been a catcher-first baseman-DH.
Switch-hitter Jasson Dominguez has been gradually losing playing time against lefty starters due to his .083 average (3-for-36) as a right-handed pitching, though he’s batting .307 with an .845 OPS as a lefty hitter.
The immediate plan is for Stanton to do “more of this” simulated BP said Boone, after the slugger swatted a hard grounder and “walked” in his two simulated plate appearances.
“Cousins is not an easy at-bat for a righty, especially,” said Boone. “I thought Cousins looked good and G looked like he was controlling the at-bats pretty well.”
Since the right-handed hitting slugger isn’t attached to a fielding position, Boone suggested that Stanton’s ramp up to the Yankees’ lineup might be accelerated.
Stanton has been hitting off the high velocity pitching machine and against Trajekt (simulating MLB pitchers) since early April.
Cousins has been on the IL since the end of spring training, due to a right elbow flexor strain. In addition to Stanton, Cousins also faced backup catcher JC Escarra on Tuesday, with Rice catching Cousins.