The New York Yankees are gearing up for their second game against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend on Saturday.
However, all the attention turned to the pregame when Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided an injury update on veteran slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who has worked his way back from a calf strain that has kept him on the IL since the end of April.
Yankees Announce Devastating News on Stanton
Stanton had yet to make a rehab appearance, but he had started running the bases as he worked toward a potential return within the next few weeks.
That return now looks far less certain after Boone revealed that Stanton fell while running the bases and strained his other calf.
“I have an update on G. He unfortunately strained his other calf in his running a couple days ago. Had fallen and the other calf is strained, so it’s a moderate grade. So what that means moving forward, we’re not ruling anything out,” Boone said pregame.
“He’ll obviously continue to work and try and get it right and hopefully be available, but obviously we’re at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging, but you also never know. Obviously bummed for him. He’s been working his tail off every single day trying to get this right. I think you know how bad he wants to be on the field and contributing to a championship, and so obviously that’s disappointing… hopefully we just continue to work to get him right and healthy.”
Aaron Boone announces that Giancarlo Stanton has strained his other calf pic.twitter.com/hamMOdfbzQ
— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 22, 2026
Yankees Right Now
This is obviously a major blow to a Yankees team that expected to get Stanton back in the lineup at some point down the stretch.
While New York has managed without him and Stanton isn’t the same player he was earlier in his career, he still has the power to completely change a game with one swing. That ability can become even more valuable in the playoffs, where one big hit can often decide a game.
On a positive note, the Yankees could get Cody Bellinger back as early as Sunday after he worked his way back from the IL. Superstar Aaron Judge also continues to progress in his recovery after recently starting to swing a bat and hit off a tee, according to Boone.
New York enters Saturday’s game with a 73-55 record, giving the Yankees the second-best record in the American League.
New York Yankees Announce Devastating Giancarlo Stanton Injury News