NEW YORK — Giancarlo Stanton revamped his workout program this past offseason, focusing on cardiovascular activity in hopes of avoiding future trips to the injured list. The Yankees slugger enjoyed good fortune in that department until Sunday, when he was sidelined with a left hamstring strain.
Stanton was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to Sunday’s game against the Braves, marking his eighth trip to the IL in the past six seasons. In a corresponding move, the Yankees recalled infielder Oswald Peraza from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said there was no word yet on the severity of the strain for Stanton, who underwent an MRI on Sunday in New York, but the club believed it would be significant enough to cost him time. Stanton missed 43 games last season with a left hamstring strain.
“It doesn’t seem like a severe situation, but we’ll know that hopefully in a little while,” Boone said.
Stanton sustained the injury during Saturday’s 8-3 victory over the Braves, when he legged out a fourth-inning double to deep center field, then scored from second base on a Gleyber Torres double. Television replays showed Stanton wincing between third base and home plate.
The 34-year-old Stanton played in 69 of the Yankees’ first 79 games. He has slashed .246/.302/.492 with 18 homers and 45 RBIs.
“He’s been having an incredible year,” said Yankees right-hander Marcus Stroman. “He’s been very consistent. I think he’s been timely; he’s been clutch. He’s been one of those huge bats for us. We’re hoping he’s OK, hoping it’s not too serious and hoping we can have him back soon.”
Stanton missed 266 games in the previous five seasons due to a litany of injuries, including a strained right biceps and posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee (2019), a strained left hamstring (2020), a strained left quadriceps (2021), right ankle inflammation and left Achilles tendinitis (2022) and a strained left hamstring (2023).
This past November, general manager Brian Cashman predicted that Stanton would “wind up getting hurt again more likely than not, because it seems to be part of his game” — a comment that irked Stanton and his agent, Joel Wolfe, and prompted an air-clearing discussion between the parties.
Boone suggested that Stanton’s current injury will mean increased turns in the designated hitter role for Aaron Judge, who served as the Yanks’ DH on Sunday, with Trent Grisham playing center field.
“I’ll cycle some guys through that [DH] spot a little bit more,” Boone said. “Probably a little uptick for Aaron in that spot.”
Instead, Boone said Peraza was “up for the day” to provide versatility and athleticism off the bench. Peraza was hitting .180 with four homers and 14 RBIs in 35 games spread across three levels of the Minors in 2024.
