It was announced by the New York Yankees on Saturday that Giancarlo Stanton will not be ready for the start of the 2025 season as he will begin on the injured list. This outcome was expected as Stanton has been dealing with tendinitis in both of his elbows, preventing him from participating in spring training.
Stanton recently underwent platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in both elbows in an effort to speed up the healing process. Prior to this, the veteran revealed that he had not swung a bat in a month due to the pain in his elbows, which has been an ongoing issue since last season.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone explained that Stanton will not have enough time to be ready for Opening Day, leading to the decision to place him on the injured list. This means that other players will need to step up to fill the designated hitter position in his absence.
While Stanton is sidelined, Aaron Judge may see more time at DH, with Trent Grisham taking over in center field and Cody Bellinger moving to right. Jasson DomÃnguez is expected to start in left field.
Options for the DH role include giving at-bats to Ben Rice against right-handed pitching, who showed promise by hitting a home run in a recent spring game. Other players in consideration include Everson Pereira, J.C. Escarra, and Dominic Smith.
The Yankees are also exploring external options for DH help, with reports indicating contact with J.D. Martinez. Despite these alternatives, it is clear that Stanton’s offensive production will be missed, as he had a strong performance last season and in the postseason.
The Yankees are set to kick off the 2025 MLB season on March 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers.