Two days later, Aaron Boone pulled the trigger.
On Sunday, the Yankees manager considered starting Giancarlo Stanton in right field on back-to-back days, but opted against it.
On Tuesday, he made the decision to send him out there for consecutive days for the first time since the slugger began playing the field last week, and Stanton rewarded him with four hits and three RBIs in an 9-1 victory.
“Just feel like he has responded well to it physically and obviously want to keep his bat in there as much as possible, too,” Boone said.
With Aaron Judge (right elbow flexor strain) not ready to play the field as he continues his rehab program, the 35-year-old Stanton has been used in right field for the first time since September 2023.
He hasn’t been tested much out there.
Getting his powerful bat in the lineup, however, is so important for the Yankees.
“It’s a credit to him. G’s here to win, period. There’s different things that pop up over the course of the season that require changing course or doing something a little bit different,” Boone said. “In his case, with Aaron going down for this period of time, making himself an option again in the outfield, he knows it is important to the club. He started working hard at it to prepare for this and give us that option.”
As for Judge returning to the outfield, there still isn’t a target date for that.
Boone wouldn’t rule out this weekend against the Cardinals in St. Louis. Judge said his elbow is responding well to throwing so far, but when asked about a possible return date, deferred questions to trainers.
“Ten days off with no throwing is a little bit weird, then trying to ramp it back up,” Judge said. “But we’re feeling good. We’re progressing. It’s all on what the trainers say. Hopefully we get back out there soon. I told Big G, don’t get comfortable in right field.”
Stanton is enjoying himself out there for the time being.
“Finding gloves from the fans is one of my favorites, so I try to not make them move it,” he said with a smile. “That’s always fun.”
Reliever Jonathan Loáisiga (right mid-back tightness) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and could be in the mix to return shortly.
The right-hander has been on the injured list since Aug. 3.
“He should be in play starting pretty soon, just because he wasn’t down for very long,” Boone said. “He should be close.”
Boone said the Yankees haven’t decided if Loáisiga will need a minor league rehabilitation assignment.
Austin Wells was on the bench for the third time in four games, replaced behind the plate by Ben Rice.
Boone said the struggling Wells will start the series finale on Wednesday at catcher.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
