New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton has revealed a gut-wrenching health update on himself.
Last year, New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton missed the first several months of the season while nursing a severe case of tennis elbow in both arms.
Unfortunately, there is no instant remedy. It's just something Stanton will have to live with so long as he is playing baseball.
"Not while I’m in this line of work," Stanton told NJ.com. "You have your good days and bad days, just like your mood and everything."
The balky elbows did not stop Stanton from enjoying arguably his best run as a Yankee last season, slashing .273/.350/.594 with 24 home runs and 66 RBI over just 281 plate appearances.
Stanton posted a .944 OPS in 2025, his highest mark since his MVP campaign with the Miami Marlins back in 2017. He also managed an eye-popping .321 ISO.
It was truly a remarkable showing for a 35-year-old (now 36) slugger who keeps defying time, but now, heading into 2026, it seems that Stanton's elbows have gotten even worse.
With Spring Training underway, Stanton has revealed that the pain has gotten so bad that he can't even perform menial tasks ... such as opening a bag of potato chips.
"I can’t open a bottle," Stanton said. "I can’t open a bag of chips … a bag of anything. That’s the way it is."
New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton. Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images.Stanton has actually dealt with the elbow pain since 2024, which makes his legendary playoff run that year all the more admirable.
The five-time All-Star has emerged as the vocal leader within the Yankees' locker room. Formerly a pariah in the Bronx after a tumultuous debut campaign in 2018, Stanton has also become a fan favorite.
"For me, he’s the poster child of mentally tough," manager Aaron Boone said. "I don’t know how else to say it. It’s true: poster child."
Stanton decided against surgery on his elbows last year, and he isn't even sure that surgery will solve his problems, anyway.
"That’s not going to be fixed in surgery, and I don’t care what any doctor says because they don’t know what’s going on," Stanton said. "What’s written (about my elbows) is what me and the Yankees give you."
The California native has not yet played in the Grapefruit League, and even when he does eventually step into the batter's box, his time will likely be limited. They are just exhibition games, after all.
Boone also confirmed that Stanton will get a lot of rest days during the regular season to keep him fresh.
We'll see if Stanton can once again overcome the pain to have another monster year.
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