Stanton Homers in Yankees Rehab Work

Giancarlo Stanton faced pitchers Wednesday at Double-A Somerset, ran the bases, and homered while taking six or seven at-bats as the New York Yankees keep him on the outskirts of the postseason conversation after a 5 1/2-month calf absence. Center fielder Trent Grisham, sidelined since a right hamstring strain on Sept. 4, worked alongside him. Manager Aaron Boone told the Associated Press the club is putting both "on the outskirts of the conversation."

That rehab stamp is the board. Soft fantasy note only: do not invent a middle-of-the-order lock. Boone said the realistic Stanton look is more pinch-hit than everyday, and even that remains a question.

Stanton has not played since April 24 after straining calf muscles in both legs. He opened the year hitting .256 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 24 games. Since arriving in New York in 2018 he has missed 500 of 1,194 games through the end of this regular season (41.9%). The injury list since then includes biceps, knee, hamstring, quadriceps, ankle, Achilles, and elbow issues stacked on top of the calves.

With Aaron Judge also fighting a calf strain, New York is trying to invent October bats out of Somerset workouts after the farm seasons ended. Carlos Lagrange threw to hitters there as well. Clarke Schmidt played catch but remains sidelined by right biceps cramps after Tommy John.

Yankees fans remember the 2018 Stanton that hit 38 homers and drove in 100. That version has been a rumor for half a decade of missed time. A Somerset homer is not a playoff clearance. It is the first loud swing in months.

Boone's pinch-hit framing is honest. A best-of-three Wild Card against a likely Boston visitor does not need Stanton for 12 innings. It might need one ninth-inning swing. That is the only realistic ask until he shows he can run without the calf lighting up again.

Grisham's parallel track matters for outfield depth if Judge is limited. Stanton matters for the middle of a short series if he can even stand in as a threat. Neither is a promise. Both are better than silence from the training room.

Stanton is owed $25 million next year on the last guaranteed season of his $325 million deal. October is the stage that still can rewrite the narrative. Somerset was just the first audition in months. Watch whether Boone moves him off the outskirts before the Wild Card roster firms up.

Rehab board

Stanton: Somerset live BP, bases, homer in 6–7 ABs. Out since April 24 (both calves). Boone: pinch-hit scenario.

Also working: Trent Grisham (hamstring since Sep 4). Lagrange threw to hitters. Schmidt still limited.

Context: Judge calf parallel; Yankees likely host AL Wild Card starting Tuesday.

Fan closer

A Somerset homer is oxygen, not a ticket. Keep Stanton on the fringe of your October board until Boone says he is more than a maybe.