A few hours before the Yankees celebrated a 12-3 win over the Padres, they received some positive news: Giancarlo Stanton stepped back into the batting box and took swings against live pitching.
This marked a significant moment in his recovery, although the road ahead is still uncertain and could be lengthy.
It was the first time Stanton faced a pitcher this season. He took on Jake Cousins, where he saw 10 pitches, resulting in a groundout to shortstop and also earning a walk.
Stanton’s swings looked solid as he continues to recover from elbow tendonitis, an issue that has also affected him in the past, requiring numerous injections.
The Yankees are set to begin a six-game road trip on the West Coast starting Friday. In the meantime, Stanton is continuing his rehabilitation, practicing hitting with a high-velocity pitching machine, as shared by manager Aaron Boone. However, Boone mentioned he’s unsure about when Stanton might start rehab assignments or what those would entail, especially since Stanton has opted out of playing in the field previously.
Cousins, who also pitched to JC Eskara, threw 15 pitches during his recovery from a right elbow flexor strain. Boone commented on Cousins’ performance, noting, “she looked good,” and added that Cousins hopes to be ready by mid-June.
When asked about the specifics of Cousins’ rehab assignments, Boone expressed uncertainty, stating that it might differ from usual since it doesn’t involve a field component.
After Devin Williams struggled in a recent game, Boone reiterated confidence in him, emphasizing that they’re not redefining the player’s role at this time.
“This is still an elite pitcher,” Boone said, noting some recent challenges Williams has faced. “He just needs to refine his control a bit more.”
Despite Williams’ setbacks, Boone feels optimistic about his performance, remarking that he’s not far from regaining his footing.
Aaron Judge continued to shine, going 3-for-3 and hitting his 12th home run, thus extending his streak to 32 consecutive games on base.
Meanwhile, right-handed pitcher Scott Effross, recovering from a left hamstring strain, had a solid outing in his rehab with the FCL Yankees, allowing no runs and striking out one in his inning of work.
In other updates, top prospect Spencer Jones found himself on the seven-day injury list while DJ Lemahieu was reassigned from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. His rehab assignment faced interruptions due to rain, but Boone indicated the team would assess his readiness as they approached the weekend.
Lemahieu had a strong showing in rehab games, going 16-for-7 with a home run and a double.
On a different note, Paul Goldschmidt had an unexpected day off, while the Yankees utilized Ben Rice and Jackson Dominguez in their lineup against the Padres.
Boone also shared a personal moment, revealing he was surprised when he learned that his brother, Brett, had been hired as a hitting coach for the Rangers. After a lengthy break from the game, Boone expressed excitement for Brett’s new opportunity, acknowledging the value he can bring.
