Giancarlo Stanton is back.
Finally.
The New York Yankees activated the big slugger from the 60-day injured list on Monday, and he’s slated to be back in the lineup in his standard designated hitter position.
In spring training, Stanton told reporters that he had torn tendons in both elbows. The Yankees officially listed his injury as elbow epicondylitis.
Stanton played three rehab contests at Double-A before his promotion, going 3-for-11.
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Now 35 years old, Stanton hit seven home runs last year in the postseason as the Yankees made a run to the World Series before falling to the Dodgers.
Stanton creates some lineup problems.
Ben Rice has been the DH, and he’s raking. He could catch, but Austin Wells has been an above-average hitter. Paul Goldschmidt has been awesome at first base.
Stanton almost surely can’t play the outfield at this stage of his career.
He may wind up being a platoon and pinch-hit option unless he comes out on fire. The Yankees have a good thing going, and changing that up for Stanton may actually work out negatively.
But the Yankees also won’t complain about having the former superstar back healthy. He’s an imposing presence who can still pack a punch, and that’s never a bad thing to have.
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