KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Giancarlo Stanton’s final step earlier than rejoining the Yankees has arrived.
The veteran slugger will start a rehab project on Tuesday at Double-A Somerset, which isn’t anticipated to be an extended one if his elbows reply effectively to sport motion.
It doesn’t appear out of the query that Stanton might rejoin the Yankees as early as this weekend in Boston in opposition to the Pink Sox if he comes by way of his rehab video games with out problem.
Stanton has been on the injured record all season after arriving to camp with tendinitis in each elbows, a situation he performed by way of within the second half of final season, together with a monster playoff run.
He has mentioned all alongside he must play by way of some stage of ache as soon as he returns this season, nevertheless it seems to be in a spot the place it’s now manageable.
The 35-year-old DH spent the final two weeks in Tampa getting loads of dwell at-bats to ramp up his workload after lacking all of spring coaching.
He was additionally coping with a minor calf problem this spring however has since gone by way of a full working development to organize for his return.
Whereas the Yankees haven’t but laid out a transparent plan for Stanton’s rehab project, he isn’t anticipated to wish too many video games as a result of he isn’t taking part in the sphere.
That is about ensuring he will get his timing down in opposition to dwell pitching in sport settings, earlier than taking part in in video games that depend.
When Stanton does return to the lively roster, Aaron Boone will probably be tasked with juggling his lineup.
He already has to take a seat one among Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, Cody Bellinger or Paul Goldschmidt each day — and now with Stanton taking on the DH spot, that may change into much more difficult.
Stanton is unlikely to play day-after-day, particularly early on as he settles again in. Rice and Grisham have cooled off after blistering begins, although Rice remains to be hitting the ball tougher on common than many of the league. And Boone mentioned on Friday that he nonetheless favored the standard of at-bats Grisham was taking.
Rice, who has obtained the majority of DH at-bats in Stanton’s absence, can spell Goldschmidt from time to time at first base (particularly in opposition to righty starters). He has additionally been getting common defensive work at catcher, his pure place, earlier than most video games, although he has but to start out there this season.
