-
Jorge Castillo
NEW YORK — Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton was reinstated from the injured record Monday to make his season debut towards the Los Angeles Angels, giving the membership a surplus of lineup choices 70 video games into the season.
Stanton was sidelined by Sunday with tendon accidents in each elbows. He performed in 2024 regardless of joint ache, together with by a postseason wherein he clubbed seven dwelling runs in 14 video games, however then he was shut down from swinging a bat in January till late March.
He was eligible for reinstatement from the 60-day injured record in late Could, however the Yankees, not determined for offense and with a number of decisions for DH, didn’t rush him again. The 35-year-old Stanton started a rehab project final week, showing in three video games for Double-A Somerset after an prolonged interval taking swings off machines and in stay batting follow. He went 3-for-11 with a double, 4 RBIs, a stroll and three strikeouts for Somerset.
In the meantime, the Yankees’ offense has thrived even with out the slugger whose 429 profession dwelling runs lead lively gamers. The workforce ranks second within the majors with a 123 wRC+ and .794 OPS with Ben Rice, Aaron Judge and Jasson Dominguez primarily biking by the DH spot.
That is the place issues develop into difficult. Stanton’s return will, because it stands, current a every day lineup puzzle for supervisor Aaron Boone to resolve — not solely within the DH slot, however within the outfield the place he has Decide plus three gamers (Dominguez, Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham) for 2 spots (heart discipline and left discipline).
Rice may begin video games at catcher to alleviate the logjam and get his bat within the lineup extra usually, Boone instructed reporters final week. Rice, 26, was drafted as a catcher and spent most of his minor league profession behind the plate, however he has but to start out on the place for the Yankees since making his main league debut final season. Rice has tallied simply 6⅔ innings behind the plate within the majors.
Austin Wells and J.C. Escarra have cut up time at catcher this season, with Wells beginning 52 of the workforce’s 70 video games behind the dish.
The Yankees designated utility man Pablo Reyes for project to make room on the lively roster for Stanton.
Additionally Monday, Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated right-hander Jake Cousins is scheduled to endure Tommy John surgical procedure on Wednesday.
Cousins spent the primary three years of his large league profession with the Brewers earlier than becoming a member of New York in 2024. Cousins had a 2.37 ERA throughout 37 video games out of the Yankees’ bullpen and appeared in six video games throughout the 2024 postseason. He didn’t pitch throughout the 2025 marketing campaign resulting from his elbow damage.