Giancarlo Stanton’s Outfield Return Update

Chicago – Three weeks after Giancarlo Stanton returned to the outfield, things are shaping up quite well for the Yankees. They’ve managed to keep the momentum going with their veteran sluggers out in right field, all the while waiting for him to fully rebound from his flexor tension issue.

For now, Stanton seems to be managing it well.

“It looks like it’s heading in a positive direction,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented before their game against the White Sox, which they won 5-3. He noted that Stanton had been resting after playing a few games back-to-back in right field. “He missed the St. Louis series; it was pretty minimal, but he looks good. We’re staying in constant communication about it,” Boone added.

Stanton, now 35, is still limited in his mobility due to past lower body injuries, yet his presence in right field hasn’t caused any major issues for the Yankees thus far.

As of Saturday, he had started in 11 games in right field and appeared in two others since Aaron Judge returned from injury, which has left the designated hitter spot occupied.

Interestingly, Boone clarified that Stanton won’t be playing left field during the upcoming series in Houston. The last time he took the field there was in Game 3 of the ALCS in 2022, when he played left. The Crawford Boxes present a different challenge, being smaller but tricky.

“We did chat briefly about Houston, but their right field isn’t incredibly spacious either,” Boone mentioned. “The center of their diamond is where it gets expansive.” He pointed out that Fenway Park, which the Yankees will visit in two weeks, has a notably large right field.

It’s worth noting that Judge might be back in the field by then. He took it easy on Saturday after throwing on base during Friday’s game, but there’s still no concrete timeline for his return.

“I think he’s progressing, and things are looking slightly better,” Boone noted. “However, I can’t provide specific dates just yet.”

In the meantime, Austin Wells continued as catcher for the second game in a row on Saturday, contributing three hits and a walk in his last two outings as the Yankees work on reigniting their offense.

He followed that with a 1-for-5 night but did hit a solo home run, which could be a sign of things picking up. “Hopefully, he’s finding his groove again,” his future improvement could really add some depth to the lineup,” a sentiment that seems to resonate as the team looks to regain their rhythm.