Giancarlo Stanton Could Return Against Red Sox This Week
New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton is nearing a return and could make his season debut later this week—possibly against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. According to reports from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale and SNY’s Andy Martino, Stanton is expected to begin a rehab assignment and may be activated as soon as the upcoming weekend.
Stanton has been sidelined all season due to tendinitis in both elbows, an injury that landed him on the injured list during spring training. If he returns in time for the Yankees’ three-game series in Boston starting Friday, it would mark his first appearance of the 2025 season.
While Stanton has been out, Ben Rice has taken on a larger role in the Yankees’ lineup and has thrived. Rice is hitting .327 with 12 home runs and an OPS of .825. Statcast data shows only four players in the majors have a higher average exit velocity than Rice: Oneil Cruz, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Pete Alonso.
Still, when healthy, Stanton remains one of baseball’s most powerful hitters. He hit 27 home runs in 114 games last season and added seven more during the Yankees’ postseason run. His potential return alongside Aaron Judge—who is currently leading MLB with a .396 average, 23 home runs, and 55 RBIs—could make the Yankees’ lineup even more dangerous.
Health remains the key question. Stanton has missed significant time in six consecutive seasons, and his ability to stay on the field is far from guaranteed. But if he does return and finds a rhythm, he and Judge could form one of the most formidable duos in the league.
