Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees’ brawny slugger, appears to be on the brink of rejoining the big league roster after logging three rehab games with Double-A Somerset. He was 3-for-11 with a double and four RBIs — not precisely a fireworks show, but enough to check the box for “game-ready.” And Saturday’s rainout was just Mother Nature getting out of the way for Stanton’s potential return during this week’s homestand against the Angels.
Manager Aaron Boone didn’t confirm the exact date, but all signs point to either Monday or Tuesday for Stanton’s season debut. Boone said Stanton’s timing is sharp, and his confidence in handling fastballs is back — always a key signal for whether he’s locked in at the plate. If all systems are a go, you can bet Stanton will be stepping into the lineup under the bright lights of Yankee Stadium.
A Power Shift at DH for the Yankees
With Stanton back, the DH carousel gets interesting. Ben Rice has been taking the lion’s share of those at-bats, posting a solid .250 average with a .530 slugging percentage — and those 12 homers aren’t nothing. Rice has earned his stripes, no doubt.
But with Judge also logging 70 plate appearances and Domínguez adding another 36 at DH, the return of Stanton forces a reevaluation. Boone’s task now is part strategy, part diplomacy: how do you feed all the bats without throwing off the rhythm?
Rice Behind the Plate?
But Boone isn’t leaving Ben Rice out in the cold—quite the opposite. The Yankees skipper hinted that Rice could see more time behind the dish — yep, catcher — especially when Paul Goldschmidt needs a breather at first.
Rice has been quietly grinding behind the scenes with catching coach Tanner Swanson. There are no starts yet, but five appearances mean the groundwork is being laid. According to Boone, “His skill work behind the scenes… he’s doing a lot of that.”
All Eyes on the Bronx
If you needed another reason to tune in this week, let this be it: Stanton’s return, the Angels in town, and Aaron Judge Superman Bobblehead Night on Friday. That’s a perfect storm of Bronx buzz. Boone said it best — “Having a lot of good players is a good thing.”
And with Stanton potentially back in the mix, the Yankees are getting closer to full strength just as the summer heats up. Don’t blink — this lineup could get scary really fast.
