Cincinnati – Early Impressions of Giancarlo Stanton
Seven games into the season, it’s tough to get a full sense of what the Yankees expect from Giancarlo Stanton. Still, manager Aaron Boone is cautiously optimistic about what he’s seen so far, even if Stanton hasn’t yet shown his usual power.
“I think he looks pretty good,” Boone said after Stanton’s mixed performance—going 1-for-3 with three strikeouts—in a 6-1 loss to the Reds at Great American Ballpark. “It feels like he’s tracking the ball well. His game does include swing and misses, which is just part of it. Honestly, he seems to be in a pretty solid spot right now.”
In his season debut, Stanton finished with a line of 23-7-23, having missed the first two and a half months due to tendonitis in both elbows. He recorded one double, two walks, and a total of nine strikeouts, with eight occurring in just his last three games.
The 35-year-old designated hitter continues to hit the ball hard when he connects; for instance, he registered a single with an impressive exit velocity of 109.8 mph. However, there’s room for improvement, particularly in elevating the ball more effectively.
“Some of the best hits he’s had were low ground balls,” Boone noted. “The next step for him is to get some of those lifted into the air more often. But he seems aware of the pitches he’s facing.”
Prior to the game, Boone mentioned the importance of managing Stanton’s days off to ensure he remains healthy for the rest of the season.
“Given our roster, we have some leeway here. There’s certainly a bit more discipline needed to manage his playing time, maybe a couple of days in three,” Boone explained. “We’re continually monitoring his methods and recovery, and especially at this early stage, it’s crucial to give him rest as needed.”
Miles away, Marcus Stroman is set to start another rehabilitation outing with Double A Somerset on Tuesday, where he’s expected to pitch around 70 pitches. Depending on the Yankees’ plans, this could be his final rehab outing, potentially allowing him to return to the rotation while Ryan Yarbrough is on the injured list.
In other news, the latest update on All-Star Game fan voting reveals that Aaron Judge is the only Yankee leading his position, making waves across baseball. Paul Goldschmidt (with Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. close behind) and Ben Rice (DH) are currently ranked second in their respective categories.
The first phase of fan voting wraps up at noon Thursday, with the top two vote-getters in each position advancing to the next round, where the final team will be determined.
