Giancarlo Stanton Update

Denver – Giancarlo Stanton is nearing the next phase of his rehabilitation, maybe even the last one.

This week, the Yankees slugger will head to Tampa for live batting practices, and he’ll be doing this for the next couple of weeks, as noted by general manager Brian Cashman during an MLB Network Radio segment on Sunday.

“Very encouraging,” said manager Aaron Boone, speaking from Coors Field on Sunday morning.

“It seems like G has been on the right track for a bit now, so building him up is crucial going forward.”

Boone mentioned that the Yankees haven’t made a definitive call about whether Stanton, who’s been dealing with some elbow issues since spring training, would need a rehabilitation assignment. In the past, the veteran designated hitter has sometimes skipped such assignments, relying instead on his time with the Trajekt pitching machine, which replicates pitches from MLB caliber players, and he benefits from not having to play in the field.

“He’s definitely part of the conversation,” Boone said. “I just want to ensure he’s game-ready when the time comes. Obviously, it’s a different situation for him, since he won’t be fielding, but it’s important to properly prepare him with some spring training-like scenarios, even if it looks different to others.”

If everything goes smoothly and Stanton returns healthy—especially with Jazz Chisholm Jr. expected back sooner—the Yankees will have to make some decisions regarding their roster and lineup in terms of playing time.

However, Boone has acknowledged that they’ll cross the activation bridge when Stanton is ready to come off the 60-day IL.