New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton is headed toward an improbable return.
When New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton suffered yet another setback in his recovery from a calf strain last month, it appeared to be curtains for the slugger.
The general expectation was that Stanton would be sidelined for the remainder of the season, as he hadn't played in a game since late April and had been through multiple obstacles throughout his rehab.
But in a stunning turn of events, Stanton is making a push toward potentially being on the Wild Card roster.
Stanton is hitting, he's doing agility drills and he is running the bases with just a few days until the playoffs begin, and he took live batting practice against Ryan Weathers — who is attempting to return from an injury of his own — on Friday.
Aaron Boone himself said that there is a chance Stanton plays and that if he does, it would be in a pinch-hit scenario.
So just picture this for a second: man on second, two outs, down one run late in the game. Stanton then emerges from the dugout and into the on-deck circle.
Can you imagine the ovation at Yankee Stadium?
Stanton's Bronx journey has certainly been a tumultuous one. He arrived through a blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins in 2017 coming off of a campaign in which he smashed 59 home runs en route to winning an NL MVP.
The thought of Stanton and Aaron Judge in the middle of the Yankees' order was beyond tantalizing. But it unfortunately hasn't gone according to plan.
Stanton's first season in New York ended with the former second-round pick laying an egg against the Boston Red Sox in the playoffs, and it resulted in constant jeering from the fanbase.
Fast forward to 2020, and everything changed. Stanton bashed six homers to go along with 13 RBI in seven games. He posted a 1.426 OPS in the process, finally breaking out of his postseason malaise.
Since then, Stanton has established himself as one of the greatest playoff hitters in history and an October legend in the Big Apple, highlighted by his seven-homer bonanza in 2024, the lone year the Yankees made it to the World Series in the Stanton era.
Now, the 36-year-old is an elder statesman, and outside of few obnoxious fans, Stanton is beloved in New York. And in a sense, he is revered.
Stanton is the unquestioned leader in the locker room. Judge may be the best player, but it's Stanton's voice that seems to hold more weight inside the walls of the stadium.
It's also Stanton's clutch gene that makes him a postseason threat even though he hasn't seen big-league pitching in five months.
Be honest: is there a single Yankee you would rather see up at the plate in a big spot in the playoffs than Stanton? Just ask the Cleveland Guardians about that one. They'll tell you without hesitation.
It remains to be seen if Stanton does ultimately end up on the Wild Card roster. But if he does, one moment from Stanton could send the Bronx into bedlam.
