Giancarlo Stanton holds keys to making his Yankees return — but it likely won't be for Red Sox series

New York Post

14 hours ago

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BOSTON — The ball is in Giancarlo Stanton's court.
But it no longer sounds as if he could be in play for the Yankees this weekend.
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Instead of joining the big league team at Fenway Park for its series against the Red Sox, Stanton was at Yankee Stadium on Friday, doing a light workout after playing three straight rehab games.
The expectation is he likely will play in another rehab game Saturday at Double-A, which makes it unlikely he then would come to Boston to play in Sunday's day-game series finale.
3 Giancarlo Stanton is pictured before the Yankees' game against the Rangers on May 20.
Jason Szenes for the NY Post
'I'm not necessarily expecting him to play this weekend, but stranger things have happened, too,' manager Aaron Boone said Friday afternoon.
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Stanton has missed the first two and a half months of the season with tendinitis in both elbows, a condition he played through last year and has said he will have to manage even once he comes back this season.
He appears to be in a spot where the pain is tolerable, and Boone said the DH has 'checked the boxes' with the training staff in terms of his running progression and all the swings he has taken in recent weeks.
3 Giancarlo Stanton is pictured during the Yankees' game against the Padres on May 6.
Robert Sabo for the NY Post
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'The biggest say is probably Big G's now,' Boone said.
Boone said he has been 'pleased' with what he has seen on video of Stanton's at-bats with Double-A Somerset, going 3-for-11 with a walk and three strikeouts.
The results are negligible, but Boone has been looking for how Stanton has been reacting to pitches.
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'What's the quality of the pitch, what's the take look like, is he getting into a strong position, making a good move at the ball?' Boone said. 'Some of the at-bats I've seen, I feel like he's recognizing balls out of the zone and things like that. He looks strong to me when he lets it go.
'His at-bats look good. He's very detailed and particular about how he feels. He feels like his timing's pretty good right now, and he feels up to speed on the fastball and things like that. Definitely my sense in the little bit of communication I've had with him this week is that he feels like he's close.'
Exactly how close remains something of a mystery, as the Yankees have remained nebulous on specifics with Stanton's timeline for a return all along.
3 Giancarlo Stanton hits a sacrifice fly during the Game 5 of the World Series against the Dodgers.
Robert Sabo for the NY Post
It seems to be more of a feel thing at this point — as in, Stanton will know it when he feels ready, but evidently, that has not happened yet.
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While the Yankees are being patient with Stanton — helped by the fact that their offense has performed well without him — they eagerly await his return.
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'Can't wait,' Aaron Judge said this week. 'Everybody in this room can't wait to see him. … He's a big part of this team. He means a lot on the field but also in this clubhouse. He's such a leader, such a mentor to a lot of the guys, especially the younger guys. It's going to be nice to get him back.'
Once Stanton does return, the Yankees will have to figure out the looming playing time logjam.
The 35-year-old is not expected to play every day, at least not early on as he settles into the groove of the season.
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But the Yankees already have to sit one of Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, Cody Bellinger or Paul Goldschmidt on a daily basis, and soon two of them (adding Stanton into that group) will be out of the lineup on a given day as long as they all stay healthy.
'I've even talked with Big G a month ago, talking through scenarios and things like that,' Boone said. 'But we'll figure it out. … I think we'll have great buy-in from our guys. That team in there, especially where guys are in their career, they want to win. We'll try to put everyone in the best position to be successful and also try to keep everyone sharp and regular. Doesn't mean it's going to be perfect, but we'll do the best we can with it.'