In addition to a 7-0 win over the Kansas City Royals, the New York Yankees also received other good news on Wednesday. According to Greg Joyce of the New York Post, Giancarlo Stanton, the team’s designated hitter who has been on the IL for over a month, has received clearance to begin running, which is the first step back to the field for the active league leader in career home runs (456). Stanton, 36, was placed on the injured list after suffering from a low-grade calf strain in late April.
Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton Receives Update on Injury Status
Giancarlo Stanton’s most recent MRI on Tuesday showed “a lot of improvement” in his right calf, per Boone. The plan is to introduce outside running this week.
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) May 27, 2026
Stanton’s Injury Creates Opening
Before the injury, the former MVP was slashing .256/.302/.422 with 3 home runs, 6 doubles, and 14 RBIs in 24 games this season. Though the Yankees’ lineup certainly misses his production, his absence has also created more opportunities for young players like outfielders Spencer Jones (who was just sent back down this week) and Jasson Domínguez to get more playing time and experience. This, in turn, begs the question of what New York’s lineup might look like when Stanton returns to the field.
Last season, when Stanton was sidelined, a youngster by the name of Ben Rice rose to the occasion and practically forced the Yankees to make him an everyday starter, even when Stanton reclaimed the DH spot. This season, though, the Yankees haven’t had much production from their designated hitters outside of Stanton; New York’s DHs have a combined OPS of .708, which ranks just 9th in the American League.
Even More Injuries
Initially, Jasson Dominguez was the one who was taking advantage of an open spot in the lineup. But unfortunately for the 23-year-old, after making a spectacular catch against the Texas Rangers in a May 7 game, he collided headfirst into the wall and sprained his shoulder, landing on the injured list as well. Spencer Jones didn’t fare too well either (though it was just his first taste of the big leagues), racking up just four hits, all of them singles, and posting an OPS of .426.
So, it’s safe to say that Stanton’s return will be much more welcome this time around. When he came back from injury last season, he ended up posting an OPS over .900 throughout the rest of the season, so the Yankees can only hope for a similar return once again. Since his injury, the Yankees are just 14-12, so even if he isn’t playing at an MVP-level anymore, he clearly still has a major impact on this team and lineup.
Still Giancarlo Stanton
In terms of a timetable for the injury, this new clearance to start the rehab process is just the first step back. Stanton has appeared in just two full seasons during his tenure in New York (‘18 and ’21), so the Yankees tend to be extra careful when it comes to their full-time DH. With that in mind, it will likely be at least a few more weeks until “Big G” starts an official rehab assignment. Even with an offense as good as New York’s has been without him, it will only be that much better with a fully healthy Giancarlo Stanton.
Main Photo Credits: David Butler II-Imagn Images
