Sidelined with a calf strain since April 24, Giancarlo Stanton resumed live hitting Wednesday.
The 36-year-old Stanton took three at-bats against Angel Chivilli (right shoulder discomfort) for the first time since straining his right calf while running the bases during a game against the Astros earlier this season.
Only soft ground balls to the left side — outside of one foul ball — came off Stanton’s bat.
Outfielder Jasson Domínguez also participated in the pregame activity. Projected to begin a minor league rehab assignment Friday, Domínguez continues to work his way back from an AC joint sprain in his left shoulder he sustained May 7.
“Good to get the reps and get outside and do that,” manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ 5-4 loss to the Guardians. “Good day. I think we’re going to do that again Saturday with Giancarlo, with the expectation that Jason will start his rehab on Friday.”
The Yankees optioned Domínguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start the regular season. After he was recalled April 27 in the wake of injuries to Stanton and Luis Gil, Domínguez suffered his own injury after crashing into the wall in left field and had to be carted off.
Both players’ progression is an encouraging development for the Yankees, who are still waiting on an official timeline for Aaron Judge’s return from a bone bruise in his upper rib cage.
The Yankees will miss their top slugger no matter how much time he misses, but Stanton’s return to the lineup would certainly help alleviate some of the offensive burden.
Stanton has exclusively been deployed as a designated hitter so far this season to manage his workload.
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His .256 batting average is also ranked sixth on the team among players who have appeared in at least 20 games so far this season.
Carlos Lagrange, who was recently shifted to the bullpen at SWB and could potentially help the Yankees down the stretch, threw four scoreless innings, struck out seven batters and walked two during his first relief appearance Wednesday.
He hit 101.4 mph, according to YES Network.
Boone said Max Fried — out since mid-May with a left elbow bone bruise — will continue to ramp up his throwing program at 75 feet, progress to 90 and potentially be set for re-imaging later next week, which will determine if the lefty can progress to throwing off a mound.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
