Yankees Get More Bad News About Giancarlo Stanton’s Return

Just a week ago, after facing live batting practice, New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton confirmed he could return to his team’s lineup by the end of the month.

The Yankees moved Stanton from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list last week, marking his earliest date to return on May 27.

“If I’m out there, I’m good enough to play,” Stanton said. “There’s no levels of anything else.”

Tuesday was the first time Stanton had experienced live pitching since being shut down at the beginning of spring training with elbow tendinitis in both arms.

He saw ten pitches in two at-bats against right-hander Jake Cousins.

Stanton, 35, expects to go on a rehab assignment. He does not have a starting date or an expectation of how long it would last. However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that a rehab assignment likely wouldn’t be long because Stanton doesn’t play defense.

When Stanton has returned from IL in recent seasons, his rehab assignments have only lasted up to two days.

Stanton’s elbow troubles go back to last year, when he dealt with elbow pain during the World Series. Stanton stopped swinging a bat entirely in January due to the pain and didn’t resume until March.

“I know when G’s in there, he’s ready to go,” Boone said. He’s not going to be in there if he doesn’t feel like he can be really productive, so I know when that time comes, when he’s ready to do that, we should be in a good spot.”

But on Sunday, MLB.com reported that Stanton has no set date to return and isn’t ready for rehab. The wait continues.