While New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton will likely avoid needing surgery for his elbow issues, a new report suggests he could still miss a stunning amount of time in 2025.
Yankees fans and Stanton have had an up-and-down relationship. When he arrived in 2018 he played like an All-Star and gave New Yorkers the belief he would be part of a Brox version of the bash brothers with top star Aaron Judge.
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However, in the six seasons since, Yankees supporters have soured on the five-time All-Star as his skills declined from age and being constantly bit by the injury bug, including one season where he only played in 18 games (2019). But the narrative on Stanton shifted over the last six months after a dynamite showing in the 2024 MLB playoffs.
Well, it seems like things will soon shift in the negative direction again after it was revealed this week that the 35-year-old is dealing with severe pain in both his elbows and hasn’t swung a bat in a month. Furthermore, a new report reveals it could take Stanton months before he can take to the field in a Yankees uniform.
- Giancarlo Stanton stats (2024): .233 AVG, .298 OBP, .475 SLG, .773 OPS, 27 HR, 72 RBI, 49 R
Could New York Yankees lose Giancarlo Stanton for six months due to elbow injuries?
On Monday, The Athletic posted a report with opinions from orthopedists about how problematic Stanton’s injury is. The designated hitter mentioned at spring training that the issue began late last season but he battled through it. However, the fact that it has gotten worse in the offseason is certainly troubling. Experts the outlet spoke to believe if he can get the pain down he can again play through the issue. But how long it takes to get back to the point varies widely.
“That’s the question that nobody has the answer to,” Dr. Timothy Gibson of MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in California told The Athletic. “That’s why it’s difficult to treat because some people are better in three weeks, some are (healthy in) six months. Last year, he tolerated this.
- Giancarlo Staton contract: Four years, $81 million left ($15 million club option in 2028
“It’s obviously at a level now where he can’t tolerate it because he’s no longer swinging a bat. He’s likely going to have to come back when it’s still sore and not painful. He needs to get back to sore, which he knows how to live with.”
Another concerning facet of the situation is that doctors believe the issue is caused by how violently Stanton swings his bat. The New York Yankees star’s 81.3 mph bat speed was the highest in MLB by far last season. Well, above most elite hitters because he uses more of his upper body in his swing. It seems to open the door to Stanton being forced to change his swing or this could be a persistent problem the rest of his career.