On Saturday, the New York Yankees officially announced that designated striker (DH) Giancarlo Stanton will miss the season opener due to an elbow injury. The heavy gunner, who received platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in both elbows this week, has been unable to swing his stick normally since mid-January due to pain. Stanton left spring training on Feb. 24 for "personal matters" and is expected to return next week.

Yankee captain Aaron Judge admitted to having spoken to Stanton: "He was obviously frustrated. We can't replace a player like that – not just because of the stats, but also because of the deterrent he brings to the line. When the number 27 (Stanton's back) is behind you, your opponent will always be a little more jealous. "

Head coach Aaron Boone confirmed that the 35-year-old doesn't have enough time to prepare for the opening game against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 27, given the progress of his recovery: "The most important thing is to get him fully recovered. If that requires sacrificing early season power, we accept it. In the long run, I believe that we will usher in the best state. "

Stanton's injury left the Yankees' designated striker up the air, an issue compounded by infielder DJ LeMahieu's left calf injury in Saturday's 9-3 spring training win against the Houston Astros.

Looking back at the 2024 season, Stanton contributed 0.233/0.298/0.475 batting trips in 114 regular-season games, hitting 20 second-run hits, 27 home runs and 72 RBIs, but was sidelined for about a month with a left hamstring strain. During the playoffs last October, he became Mr. Key for the Yankees, named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the Cleveland Guardians.

In Stanton's absence, Judge could increase the frequency of his designated strikes – as was done when Stanton was on the injury list last summer. The move could trigger a restructuring of the outfield defence: Trent Grisham in the field, Cody Bellinger in the right field and Jasson Domínguez in the left field.

"I'm open to any arrangement," Judge said, "and we have great depth in the field. That could give Grisham more chances – he's in excellent form at the training ground. It could also allow Bellinger to temporarily move to the right. It's all about the team's victory. "

Emphasizing that the designation of strikers ultimately depends on lineup configuration and pitching strategy, Boone acknowledged that it could be beneficial to have Judge as DH for part of the game: "But I also value Judge's defensive value in the outfield, especially when he's in good shape. We will make a choice based on the situation. "

According to media reports, the Yankees have teamed up with free agent heavy J.D. Martinez (J.D. Martinez). Martinez). The latter played in 120 games for the New York Mets last year, convincing 0.235/0.320/0.406 batting trips, contributing 16 hits and 69 RBIs. Other designated hitting options include catcher/first baseman Ben Rice, outfielder Everson Pereira, catcher/infielder J.C. Escala J.C. Escarra) and first baseman/outfielder Dom Smith.

"We have a lot of good options," Judge concluded, "and maybe it will create an opportunity for some players to show their striking power early in the season. "