Giancarlo Stanton Remains on Injured Reserve
ARLINGTON, Texas — Giancarlo Stanton is still on injured reserve while the Yankees monitor the condition of his calf over the next few days.
The team’s designated hitter will be on the 10-day injured list after an MRI indicated a “mild” strain in his right calf, as confirmed by manager Aaron Boone following the Rangers’ 4-2 victory at Globe Life Field.
“It seems to be nothing too serious, but I didn’t want to take any chances by waiting longer,” Boone mentioned. “We’ll see how things develop this week.”
At 36, Stanton has had a history of soft-tissue injuries, particularly affecting his feet. He sustained the calf strain during a jog from first to second base in a game against the Astros on Friday night, eventually having to leave after reaching third.
The Yankees are optimistic Stanton will return before the situation worsens, but he is expected to be sidelined at least until next Tuesday.
In the meantime, Jasson Dominguez was called up Monday to fill the DH position against Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter. How long he stays in that role remains uncertain, especially since Anthony Volpe might be back from the injured list as soon as Friday.
Boone indicated that the minimum absence could be 10 days, but he preferred not to commit to a specific timeline.
Throughout 24 games this season, Stanton recorded a .256 batting average, along with an OPS of .724, three home runs, and 14 RBIs.
Aaron Judge commented on Stanton’s absence, “It’s a big loss for us. He brings significant power to our lineup and contributes notable RBIs. Hopefully, it’s just a short stint. It’s good he caught it early, and we’re eager for his return.”
Switching topics, Boone had another difficult talk with Lewis Gil this year regarding his demotion to Triple-A. Recent struggles highlighted some areas the former American League Rookie of the Year needs to improve on while playing in the minors.
“I think he took it well. He seemed focused,” Boone remarked at Globe Life Field. “We’re optimistic about his future. He’s in terrific shape and has done a lot of good work over the winter.”
“His best course now is to keep working on getting some starts in less pressurized situations and hopefully get back on track,” he added.
However, it’s unclear how much longer Gil can remain a contender for a spot in the rotation this season. Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole are set to return from the injured list in May, and the Yankees also have promising pitching prospects in Triple-A.
For now, the expectation is to have someone else step in for the fifth starting pitcher role, likely by May 5.
This could involve Rodriguez or one of the team’s long-relief pitchers, Ryan Yarbrough or Paul Blackburn, preparing for a bullpen game. Rodon still requires a couple more rehab outings, with his next scheduled for Thursday.
Meanwhile, Gil will head back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after an inconsistent start to the season. He’s still working on regaining the consistency of his four-seam fastball, but his current whiff rates haven’t matched his prime performance.
“We’ve noted some improvement in his pitches, and we’re optimistic,” Boone said. “Better performance from everyone simply helps the team as a whole.”
Anthony Volpe is slated to participate in rehab games at Double-A Somerset, with a review of his condition expected afterward. He could potentially rejoin the team for the series opener against the Orioles on Friday.
In addition, it was reported that Paul DeJong is considering opting out of his minor league contract if he’s not brought to the majors by the end of the month. Despite participating in 22 games at Triple-A and posting a .213 batting average with six home runs, the likelihood of him making it to the major league roster seems slim, especially with Volpe close to returning.
