Just like they did last season, the New York Yankees have one of the most potent offenses in baseball so far this season. After Saturday’s 9-4 rout over the Baltimore Orioles, New York as a team has the most homers in the Major Leagues, is tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for the most walks, and ranks fifth in OPS and sixth in runs scored. What makes this more impressive is that Aaron Judge is off to a “slow” start by his standards (he still has a 1.018 OPS), and they are once again without Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton, who’s appeared in 24 games so far this season, went on the 10-day injured list last Wednesday with a low-grade calf strain. It is the, at minimum, ninth IL stint for Stanton stemming from a lower-body injury in his nine-year stint in the Bronx. One injury per season seems to have become an unfortunate norm for Stanton, who is nearing the coveted 500-homer club and needs just 44 more to power his way to Cooperstown.
Yankees Get Positive Update on Giancarlo Stanton Calf Injury
Rehab Progress
On Saturday, the Yankees gave a positive update on Stanton’s progress as he rehabs from that calf strain. He told YES Network’s Meredith Marakovits that he is taking swings in the batting cage and will continue to do so over the weekend. Yankees manager Aaron Boone initially stated in announcing Stanton’s IL stint that the injury was fairly minor: “Doesn’t look too serious, but enough to not want to wait a couple more days,” Boone said. “We’ll see what we have as the week unfolds. Hopefully not too long, but we’ll see.”
Giancarlo Stanton said his calf is improving. Hit in cage yesterday and will hit again tomorrow. Doing workout in pool today. Seems encouraged by progress #yankees
— Meredith Marakovits (@M_Marakovits) May 2, 2026
Stanton is slashing .256/.302/.422 with three homers and 14 RBI, including six doubles. Those stats give some hope for optimism, especially considering that he was still able to hit 24 homers with a .944 OPS in 2025. Still, is it even more essential for Stanton to produce when he’s healthy because of who he’ll displace when he’s back in the lineup.
Too Many Hitters
Not only does first baseman Ben Rice get a lot of starts in the designated hitter slot, but once Anthony Volpe returns from rehab, it could force out José Caballero, who already has a brWAR of 1.2. Jasson Dominguez, who the Yankees recalled when Stanton went on the IL, is also fighting for starts in the lineup right now, so having an open slot for them with Stanton out isn’t the worst possible scenario. Amed Rosario is another guy who deserves playing time; he’s hitting .267 with an .830 OPS and four homers.
Regardless, there is no doubt that the Yankees are a better team with Stanton in the lineup. Even with suffering a plethora of injuries within the last few years, the potential future Hall of Famer clearly still wants to earn a ring with the Yankees before his body gives out on him.
Main Photo Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
