Giancarlo Stanton prefers the two-run shot over the two-shot run, but the New York Yankees’ designated hitter required a second round of platelet-rich plasma injections to address chronic elbow pain.
Team president Brian Cashman said Thursday the latest development puts New York into “a little bit of the unknown” with the 35-year-old slugger who will begin the season on the injured list.
Cashman also said right-hander Luis Gil will be sidelined for at least three months because of his high-grade lat strain and infielder DJ LeMahieu is dealing with a strain in his left calf that will keep him out “a couple of weeks.”
Gil, the reigning American League Rookie of the Year, was unable to get loose in a bullpen session last Friday, leading to an MRI on Saturday. Initially, manager Aaron Boone said the right-hander would be out for at least six weeks.
Stanton left spring training within days of his arrival to visit team doctors in New York, where his first round of PRP injections took place. But the pain was not greatly reduced, and Cashman said the Yankees are planning to be “conservative” with the right-handed power hitter. The team didn’t believe the issue warranted offseason attention because Stanton had not complained of pain or discomfort.
Stanton said three weeks before spring training began, the pain in his elbows returned.
“The complaints didn’t come until obviously right before camp,” Cashman said Thursday. “Now we’re dealing with it. Give it the time it needs. Hoping to get him back at some point, but in the near-term, that won’t be the case.”
Cashman said the uncertainty means surgery can’t be ruled out. He said it would be a “last resort” as Stanton said he’s prepared to play in pain again.
“Obviously the PRP injections are designed to help the healing process,” Cashman said. “You hope that’s the case. A, you have to let it all take and B, you have to let it all play out. And hopefully you get a positive resolution.”
The MVP of the 2024 AL Championship Series, Stanton was bothered by deep soreness in his elbows for much of last season. He still hit 27 home runs and drove in 72 runs over 114 games in the regular season.
Stanton had seven homers and 16 RBIs in 55 postseason at-bats as the Yankees reached the World Series before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games. Stanton went deep twice in the Fall Classic to follow up his four-homer showing against the Cleveland Guardians in the ALCS.
Stanton is entering his 16th major league season — the first eight coming with the Florida/Miami Marlins before he was traded to the Yankees prior to the 2018 campaign. He has 429 homers and 1,103 RBIs along with a .257 average in 1,649 career games.
The National League MVP in 2017 with the Marlins, he has three seasons remaining on a 13-year, $325 million deal. The Yankees hold a club option for 2028.
Stanton hasn’t participated in spring training workouts to date. He is scheduled to travel back to Tampa on Friday and will rejoin the Yankees at some point over the weekend.
Gil, 26, worked 151 2/3 innings in 29 starts last season when he went 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA. He limited batters to a .189 batting average and struck out 171 but walked 77, most in the majors.
Gil underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2022.
LeMahieu, 36, batted a career-low .204 with two home runs and 26 RBIs in 67 games last season.
–Field Level Media
