Stanton has been on the injured list for several months due to a calf strain and reportedly strained his other calf while ramping up to return to action. Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided the update ahead of Saturday’s game. While he didn’t completely rule out a return this season, Boone’s comments suggested the outlook was uncertain.
“I’m afraid he strained his other calf. He was running a couple days ago, fell, and the other calf is strained,” Boone said. “It’s a moderate grade. What that means moving forward, we’re not ruling anything out. He’ll obviously continue to work to try to get it right and hopefully be available, but obviously we’re at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging.”
One of the newest Yankees, Luis Garcia Jr., who was acquired at the trade deadline, commented on Stanton’s injury after Saturday’s game. Garcia has not yet shared the field with Stanton since joining New York but remained hopeful about the veteran’s return.
“I’m sure he’s going to come back fast and I know he’s strong… we’ll see him soon,” Garcia Jr. said. “There’s no doubt in my mind, when he comes back, he’s going to come back strong. Even if he’s not on the field, he’s still supporting us and providing very good energy here.”
The ongoing situation adds to the challenge of a season already marked by injury absences for Stanton, who has been a key contributor when available. As the team navigates the rest of the series, the focus remains on potential timelines for Stanton’s return and how the lineup might adapt in the meantime.
