Stanton advances in rehab while Tanaka stays right on track
TAMPA — Giancarlo Stanton knows the feeling. The Yankees slugger lost almost all of the 2019 season to injuries and is likely going to miss this year’s Opening Day with a right calf injury. So when he heard about Aaron Judge’s stress fracture in his first right rib and was shut down for two more weeks next month, he was empathetic.
“Nothing’s hard to believe in our line of work these days. That’s what it is,” Stanton said Sunday after the Yankees’ 1-0 win over the Orioles at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “It’s unfortunate that it was from last year and it lingered over to this year. But he’s got to do what he can now and that’s take some time off. Hopefully he advances in those couple weeks off.”
Stanton has advanced in his rehab. The slugger again ran on the Alter-G treadmill on Sunday and began working with a coach in the batting cage, Aaron Boone said.
“So I’ll just continue that progress and see what we’ve got,” Stanton said. “Until I’m ready for the next progression outside.”
Stanton said he no longer feels anything in his calf.
“With the stuff we’re doing, no. So that’s good,” Stanton said.
The 30-year-old outfielder strained his left biceps the first weekend of the season. While rehabbing from that, Stanton also dealt with a strained left shoulder and then, as he was beginning to rehab he strained his left calf. He returned to play six games before he jammed his knee running bases and missed 73 games before returning in September.
And then he suffered a right quad strain during the ALCS, playing in just two games of that series that ended the Yankees season.
Stanton slashed .288/.403/ .492 with three home runs and 13 RBI in those 18 regular-season games this season. He hit .230 with two RBI in 13 postseason at-bats.
The Yankees traded for him after his National League
MVP season in 2017 and a majority of what remains of his 13-year, $325 million deal hoping he could anchor their offense with Judge.
It’s hard for Yankees fans not to dream about what those two sluggers would do in one lineup if they were both healthy.
“I mean, I wouldn’t put a cap on anything that they can do in this game at even this point in their career,” Boone said. “I think they’re both still very much in the prime like. The key is keeping them healthy and I know if we can do that and then, you know, I don’t want to put a ceiling on what their capabilities are even, you know, going back to ’17. Their great players, you know, hopefully, you know, we can get up. Get them out there for a lot of games this year.”
TANAKA TIME
In a camp and rotation that has already been hit hard by injuries, Masahiro Tanaka continued to fine-tune his cutter and splitter Sunday. The right-hander has breezed through his first three appearances of the spring as he lines up to pitch the April 2 home opener at Yankee Stadium.
“Just being healthy enough to rack up the innings and number of pitches. And also just being able to work on a lot of my pitches,” Tanaka said of what has been best about his 2020 spring. “Maybe the cutter, more so than the others. Just to see just to see how it plays out in games.”
Sunday, Tanaka struck out four batters over 3.2 scoreless innings work. He allowed one hit and did not walk a batter.
“I mean Masa has been really good. All spring. You know, again, made some really good pitches with the cutter today in to righties. But the split I thought was good,” Boone said. “Command is good, it’s been a really good place since he’s got down here throwing. You know, step up, getting out there for the fourth so yeah good day for Masa.”