Stanton to injured list with left biceps strain
NEW YORK -- The Yankees' star-studded roster of inactive players acquired another bold-faced name on Monday, as Giancarlo Stanton landed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 1 strain of his left biceps.
Stanton said he sustained the injury during New York's 7-5 loss to the Orioles on Sunday, and he hopes for a "speedy" recovery. The slugger will be shut down from activities for at least 10 days, and manager Aaron Boone said that he could have Stanton back in the lineup before the end of the month.
"I don't like it at all," Stanton said. "I just worked for six weeks to get here, plus the offseason. I'd much rather this would have popped in [during] Spring Training, but it's where we're at. I don't have to start from scratch when I come back, but I've just got to build everything up and make sure everything is ready to go when I'm back."
To replace Stanton on the active roster, the Yankees recalled outfielder Clint Frazier from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Though Frazier was not in Monday's lineup against the Tigers, with Mike Tauchman getting the start in left field, Boone said he expects Frazier to play regularly while Stanton is unavailable.
• Frazier aims to make most of opportunity
In addition to Stanton, the Yankees' injured list includes a pair of outfielders in Jacoby Ellsbury (recovery from left hip surgery) and Aaron Hicks (chronic back pain), both of whom are stashed at the team's Player Development complex in Tampa, Fla.
Boone said that Hicks has not resumed baseball activities and is weeks away from being considered big league ready, needing to go through a full Spring Training. Other injured or rehabbing Yankees include right-hander Dellin Betances, shortstop Didi Gregorius, left-hander CC Sabathia and right-hander Luis Severino.
"We're talking about really good players that we're missing," Boone said. "They're a big part of our club. We feel like we're equipped to handle this, especially in some of these cases that we believe are going to be on a short-term basis. I feel like we have a team capable of weathering that storm."
Stanton was 2-for-8 with a Major League-leading seven walks through the Yankees' first three games. He said he sustained the injury on a third-inning swing against Orioles starter Dylan Bundy on Sunday.
After that hack, which generated a foul ball on a 3-1 count, Stanton grimaced and wiggled his arm. He initially believed that it was a cramp and remained in the game, then tested the biceps later in the batting cages.
"In the middle of the game, you've got your adrenaline pumping," Stanton said. "You want to stay out there. Once you've settled down and get undressed and showered, that's when your gauges are a little better. Things start tightening up if they're not right."
In the opening act of his second season in pinstripes, Stanton expressed hope that the Yankees will be able to enjoy better health as the year plays out.
"Especially how last year went, a bunch of us were down," Stanton said. "We didn't really have our full squad the whole year. All that goes into it, especially where we're at now. It's unfortunate right now. I guess it's better to be in the beginning than the end of the year."