Yankees Activate Giancarlo Stanton From 60-Day IL for Season Debut

The New York Yankees activated designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton from the 60-day injured list, marking his season debut after recovering from severe tennis elbow in both arms. Stanton, who managed elbow pain throughout the previous season and postseason—where he hit seven home runs in 14 games and earned ALCS MVP honors—recently completed a three-game rehab stint at Double-A Somerset, performing well enough to convince Yankees manager Aaron Boone of his readiness. His return creates a lineup adjustment challenge, particularly in the designated hitter spot, impacting playing time for Ben Rice, Jasson Dominguez, and Trent Grisham. Boone has considered repositioning Rice, who was originally a catcher by trade, to catcher or first base to accommodate Stanton's inclusion and optimize the outfield configuration alongside Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and others. The Yankees have thrived offensively in Stanton's absence, ranking second in the majors in key metrics, but his return is expected to bolster the team's lineup as they continue competing in the AL East. Pablo Reyes was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Stanton.