Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton Reveals Updated Timetable for Injury Return amid IL Stint

New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton provided reporters with a potential timetable for his return off the injured list from a left hamstring strain suffered while running the bases against the Atlanta Braves on June 22.

"I just got to stack here a few more days, good days together," Stanton said Saturday before the Yankees' home game against the Tampa Bay Rays (h/t Associated Press). "If I get a few good days this week, make a decision by the end of next week."

Stanton has hit .246 (.795 OPS) with 18 homers and 45 RBI in 69 games this season. New York has notably struggled without his bat in the lineup, going 13-17, per StatMuse.

This has been a bounce-back year for Stanton, who hit just .191 with a career-low .695 OPS in 2023. He's been an integral part of the Yankees' lineup when healthy.

However, the Bronx Bombers have struggled of late, going 10-19 in their last 29 games. The lineup has largely faltered outside of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, with players slumping up and down the batting order.

Stanton at least gave the Yankees a third power threat and added protection behind Soto and Judge. Without him, New York has struggled significantly, and a lineup that was lacking depth to begin with took another blow.

Thankfully, it appears that Stanton will be healthy enough to play in due time. Manager Aaron Boone stressed the importance of "stacking" good days together.

"It's about the stamina, building it over and over each day," Boone told reporters. "I think he feels really good, but getting that volume under his belt to where he comes back, it's ready to roll. So, yeah, now it's about just stacking days of putting it together."

He also added that a rehab assignment may not be needed.

"The level of things you're able to replicate now really do speed that clock up," Boone said. "And because you're not building stamina being out there for nine innings in the field necessarily, it's a little gray."

Ultimately, it's a welcome sight for a player who has struggled significantly with injuries since 2019. Per the AP, Stanton had missed 266 of 708 games over his last five seasons (38 percent). But it doesn't seem like he'll be out much longer.