New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton said Saturday that he expects to return to game action by late next week.

Stanton has been sidelined since straining his left hamstring while running the bases on June 22. He went on the 10-day injured list the following day, marking the eighth time in six seasons that he landed on the IL.

“I just have to stack a few more days,” Stanton said Saturday. “By the end of next week, if (I) have a few good days we’ll make a decision.”

The Yankees are monitoring Stanton’s progress and will either activate him or have him participate in a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment.

“I don’t know that there’s downside (to Stanton playing rehab games) other than he’s a DH and just the level of things you’re able to replicate now really do speed that clock up,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t have him go play … a game or two. We haven’t made that decision yet.”

Stanton, 34, is batting .246 with 18 homers and 45 RBIs in 69 games this season.

The 2017 National League MVP with the Miami Marlins, Stanton has sustained a variety of injuries since being traded to the Yankees before the 2018 season.

He has been sidelined by a strained left biceps, a right knee sprain, a strained left quadriceps, a strained right calf and left Achilles tendonitis. This is the third time Stanton has landed on the IL with a strained left hamstring.

Stanton was limited to a combined 41 games in the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He is earning $32 million this season as part of the 13-year, $325 million deal with the Marlins on Nov. 17, 2014.

–Field Level Media