Things were just starting to look up for New York Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton until another injury settled in and shut him down again.
Just three games into the 2019 MLB season the New York Yankees decided to place star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton on the 10-day IL with a left biceps strain. After weeks of recovery, it was later revealed that Stanton was also dealing with shoulder soreness which required a cortisone shot.
Now, after showing some promise on a rehab stint with the Yankees minor league affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons, Stanton has been shut down again because of a left calf strain. According to beat reporter Bryan Hoch, the injury occurred last week during batting practice.
I can’t explain how a hit by pitch would cause a calf strain. Neither could Boone.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) May 22, 2019
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The good news regarding this injury is that, in the grand scheme of things, this is a minor setback for Stanton who has been on the IL since April 1. The bad news is that the Yankees will be without the former NL MVP for another 7-10 days.
This season, the Yanks have been the victim of numerous injuries and just when things were starting to look up for the team, they suffer yet another setback. First, starting third baseman Miguel Andujar returns for a brief stint before being shut down for the year and now this.
Surprisingly, the team hasn’t much missed any one of their 14 injured players. As of today, they’re in first place in the AL East, leading the Tampa Bay Rays by 2.0 games and the Boston Red Sox by 5.5.
In this stretch, the Yanks have shown the incredible depth they have in the minor leagues. Players like Gio Urshela and Thairo Estrada have provided the Yankees with just what they needed given the unprecedented number of injuries.
Moving forward, these players will be expected to continue playing at the level they’re currently playing in if the team wants to remain competitive. So far, there has been no indication that they aren’t capable or ready for the task.