NEW YORK -- The Yankees had one of their biggest bats in the lineup for the first time this season.
Slugger Giancarlo Stanton was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and started at DH in Monday night's 1-0, 11-inning loss to the Angels at Yankee Stadium. Batting fifth, Stanton went 2-for-4 with a 111.1 mph single in the fourth inning and a 102.9 mph double in the ninth before exiting for a pinch-runner.
“It’s great to be back. You obviously want to win. I settled down pretty well except for one at-bat. We are working on that – just to make sure my timing was geared up. It’s only the first day,” Stanton said.
In a corresponding move, infielder/outfielder Pablo Reyes was designated for assignment.
Stanton went 3-for-11 (.273) with one double, four RBIs and one walk in three rehab games for the Double-A Somerset Patriots. He missed all of Spring Training due to tennis elbow (epicondylitis) in both arms, an issue Stanton said dates to last season.
“His at-bats look good,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Saturday. “He’s very detailed and particular about how he feels. He feels like his timing is pretty good right now. He feels up to speed on the fastball. My sense, in the little bit of communication I’ve had with him this week, is that he feels like he’s close."
Stanton’s return will alter how the club handles the designated hitter spot.
“I’ve even talked with Big G a month ago, talking through scenarios and things like that,” Boone said. “We’ll figure it out. Having a lot of good players is a good thing.”
Stanton sounds like a man who will do anything to help the team win.
“Whatever is best for us to win is the most important,” Stanton said. “The guys that aren’t going to be starting are going to be coming in huge pinch-hit spots. You usually have a chance to win a game anyway. Yeah, we’ll work with it.”
During the Yanks’ recent series at Kansas City, Boone suggested Ben Rice could see time at catcher “here and there” in addition to time spelling Paul Goldschmidt at first base. Boone said Rice has been working frequently with catching coach Tanner Swanson all year. Rice has made five appearances behind the plate this season, with no starts.
“His skill work behind the scenes, he’s doing all that,” Boone said. “Whether it’s catching bullpens … he’s doing a lot of that. He’s working at the craft all the time as much as he can. At some point, we’ll probably get him back there in a game.”
Stanton, 35, began his eighth season with the Yankees. He has hit .242 with 162 home runs for New York since his acquisition from the Marlins following the 2017 season. Stanton hit .233 with 27 home runs in the 2024 regular season but made his biggest impact during the Yanks' run to the World Series, cracking seven home runs in 14 games and taking home American League Championship Series MVP honors.