The New York Yankees currently lead all of Major League Baseball with 57 home runs and a league-best .817 OPS. They’re also second in runs per game at 5.5, just behind the Chicago Cubs. These offensive numbers have contributed to a solid 19-15 record, giving them a two-game lead over longtime rivals, the Boston Red Sox, atop the American League East.
But could their performance improve even more with the return of MLB’s active home run leader?
That might be closer to reality than expected, according to Giancarlo Stanton himself.
Stanton, who has hit 429 career home runs—42 more than runner-up Mike Trout—has yet to appear in a game for the Yankees this season. In 2024, he launched 27 home runs over 114 games, and added seven more in the postseason, bringing his playoff total to 18 in 41 games.
Now in the 11th year of his 13-year, $325 million deal, the 35-year-old arrived at spring training with serious pain in both elbows. At the time, the injuries were so concerning he even considered season-ending surgery.
Recovery Progress Over the Past Two Months
That was back in early March. Fast forward two months and three PRP injections later, and Stanton is far more optimistic.
Speaking to the YES Network on Sunday, Stanton said he hopes to return “sooner rather than later.” He took on-field batting practice for the first time on April 22 and told reporter Meredith Marakovits that while the elbow pain might not fully disappear, he’s aiming to keep it under control enough to play: “There’ll be good days and bad days. You just have to keep the right mindset.”
On Tuesday, Stanton is set to face live pitching for the first time this year, hitting against teammate Jake Cousins, who’s also recovering from an injury.
Still No Rehab Date Set
Despite the progress, Stanton has yet to begin a rehab assignment, which would be his final step before returning to the Yankees’ roster. He said that decision depends on how he performs in live at-bats.
Three days ago, the Yankees moved Stanton to the 60-day injured list, meaning the earliest he could rejoin the team is May 24, according to The Athletic.
Meanwhile, the Yankees added outfielder Bryan De La Cruz off waivers and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. De La Cruz hit 19 homers in 2023 with the Marlins and 21 more last season, split between Miami and Pittsburgh, potentially offering some power in Stanton’s absence.
Stanton acknowledged how difficult this stretch has been: “It’s been awful for me. But anything I can do to help the guys—share knowledge, support them—that’s my role right now.”
