St. Louis – Giancarlo Stanton’s Brief Respite

After playing three consecutive games in the outfield, Giancarlo Stanton is taking a break. The Yankees veteran missed the lineup again on Saturday, marking the second game in a row he’s sat out. This is part of his recovery after playing the field for the first time in over three years, which began on Thursday.

Manager Aaron Boone addressed the situation before Saturday’s game at Busch Stadium, mentioning that Stanton had a bit of a rough recovery after Wednesday’s performance. He noted, “We’ll check and see if Sunday is an option.”

Stanton’s issue seems to stem from his lower body, as he has dealt with multiple soft tissue injuries over the years. This is distinct from the kind of problems that, say, affect the elbow. The Yankees had started playing him in the field again to utilize his bat alongside Aaron Judge, who is still limited to designated hitter duties due to elbow issues.

Stanton’s progress poses some questions. Boone signaled that Stanton is preparing to pinch-hit but emphasized caution, stating, “I don’t want to throw him out in the outfield altogether.” There appears to be an ongoing conversation about managing Stanton’s health carefully, trying to stay ahead of any potential issues.

For now, the Yankees face daily queries about whether Stanton is fit to return to outfield play. As Boone puts it, “It’s not a big thing—more like spring training.” He compared the situation to a marathon runner who can’t just jump back into a race after a long layoff.

Until Stanton is deemed ready, Jose Caballero will continue to fill the right field position for the Yankees.