Just as it has in years past, the injury bug is biting the New York Yankees early.
Manager Aaron Boone exposed Wednesday that outfielder/DH Giancarlo Stanton suffered a calf strain during defensive workouts Tuesday, and could miss the start of the campaign as a result.
Stanton, 30, will really be hoping this is not a sign of more trouble to come. He was limited to just 18 regular-season games last season due to various injuries, including a quad issue that bothered him in the postseason.
Stanton, who had 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first season as a Yankee in 2018, was surely hoping for an injury-free season, but it looks like that goal is already off the table before we even hit March.
"It's disappointing because you want to get guys going and built up," Boone said Wednesday. "But it's just a little bump in the road and we're equipped to handle it."
Stanton underwent an MRI exam, which showed the Grade 1 calf strain.
The results were announced less than 24 hours after the Yankees said starting pitcher Luis Severino will miss all of the 2020 campaign due to Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow.
Stanton appeared in only 18 games last season because of multiple injuries. He recorded a .288 batting average with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 72 plate appearances last year.
In his first season with the Yankees in 2018, Stanton had a .266 average and belted 38 home runs. Before joining the Yankees, he tallied career highs in homers (59), RBIs (132) and slugging percentage (.631) during his final season with the Miami Marlins in 2017.
Stanton signed a 13-year, $325 million contract with the Marlins after the 2014 season. He will earn a base salary of $26 million with the Yankees in 2020.
