New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton was supposed to form one of the most dangerous tandems with fellow outfielder Aaron Judge when the Yankees acquired the former National League MVP a few years ago from the Miami Marlins, but constant trips to the injured list, for both, have left fans frustrated.
Stanton, 30, is again on the injured list after a hot start to the season, and fans are fed up with his inability to stay healthy, but Stanton is disappointed as well.
“I am disappointed in myself. I would be disappointed if I was rooting for me. Words can’t really describe the disappointment I’ve had over this,” Stanton said, according to ESPN’s Marly Rivera.
“But I can’t really dwell on it. I have to see what’s in front of me, and that’s still a decent amount of the season and playoffs left. Though I was in the situation before, seems unreal at times, but I can just push forward and root my guys on until I’m back.”
Stanton played in 158 games in his first season with the Yankees, hitting 38 home runs with 100 RBIs, but was limited to just 18 games last season, 5 in the postseason, and is again on the shelf this season.
Stanton is getting treatment for swelling and scar tissue and is currently working out, but has not started baseball activies just yet.
“It’s been tough, to be honest. This is my life. It’s unbelievable,” Stanton said. “There’s nothing for me to do but work to get back and keep a positive mindset. As repetitive as that sounds or might seem, there’s no positivity or nothing benefiting in being negative about it.”
Stanton is joined on the injured list by the oft-injured Judge, and DJ LeMahieu whose bat will be sorely missed in the lineup, which has the Yanks relying, yet again, on the “next man up” approach.
“From one of the guys that has to see his role being filled, it’s awesome to see these guys coming in and being ready and putting wins in the column, being huge contributors,” Stanton said.
Stanton will have a big decision ahead of him at the end of the 2020 season, but it is likely that he will decide not to opt out of his 13-year, $325 million contract to hit free agency, and will return to the Yankees with 6 years remaining on the deal and a $235 million bill for the Yanks.
