Giancarlo Stanton on IL
The New York Yankees have been cruising since Major League Baseball began playing a shortened season in July. The Yankees lead the American League East with an impressive 16-6 record after a hot start and are motivated to win silverware this year. However, that doesn’t mean they have been without their fair share of setbacks.
Outfielder Giancarlo Stanton looked poised for a big season after an injury-riddled 2019, but he now finds himself on the sideline again with a left hamstring strain. The latest setback could keep him off the field for at least four weeks and the slugger isn’t very happy about it.
“I am disappointed in myself. I would be disappointed if I was rooting for me. Words can’t really describe the disappointment I’ve had over this,” Stanton said Monday during a pregame videoconference call, via ESPN.
“But I can’t really dwell on it. I have to see what’s in front of me, and that’s still a decent amount of the season and playoffs left. Though I was in the situation before, seems unreal at times, but I can just push forward and root my guys on until I’m back.”
Stanton had originally suffered a Grade 1 right calf strain during spring training, but with the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the start of the season the 30-year-old had plenty of time to recover and be ready to go for July’s opening day.
“It’s been tough, to be honest. This is my life. It’s unbelievable,” he said. “There’s nothing for me to do but work to get back and keep a positive mindset. As repetitive as that sounds or might seem, there’s no positivity or nothing benefiting in being negative about it.”
The slugger has been left frustrated after being able to play just 18 games last season when he suffered a knee injury. The veteran is only in his third season with New York and seems eager to prove he is worth the price of his hefty $25m per season salary.
Stanton arrived in New York in December, 2017, from the Miami Marlins becoming just the second player in history to be traded after putting up 50 home runs in a single season. He had a ridiculous 59 home runs in 2017 with Miami before joining the Yankees for the 2018 campaign where he was able to hit 38 home runs in his first season with the club.
Stanton isn’t the only Yankees’ superstar out injured either as the team placed Aaron Judge on the 10-day IL with a mild calf strain. They have also lost American League batting leader DJ LeMahieu who will miss time with a sprained thumb. Despite the losses in the lineup though, the Yankees have still been winning ball games and could be set for a big year with a variety of other players stepping up to fill the void.
“From one of the guys that has to see his role being filled, it’s awesome to see these guys coming in and being ready and putting wins in the column, being huge contributors,” Stanton said.
The Yankees will take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game series before playing cross-town rivals the New York Mets over the weekend.
