TAMPA — Giancarlo Stanton was taking part in solely his second recreation of the spring on Thursday night time, so it was nonetheless too early to inform whether or not the offseason adjustments he made to his physique and swing will result in tangible enhancements.
However the Yankees have been inspired by some early indicators, together with the place Stanton was beginning Thursday’s recreation in opposition to the Marlins: proper subject.
After all, extra necessary than the place Stanton performs is how he produces within the batter’s field, however supervisor Aaron Boone thought of his early motion within the subject one other optimistic signal of how the 34-year-old was feeling bodily.
“I do know by all of the assessments and all the things, he’s in an incredible place strength-wise,” Boone mentioned earlier than Stanton performed 5 innings in a scoreless tie at Steinbrenner Subject. “In all probability the strongest man nonetheless on the workforce and all that. And positively shifting higher. It’s noticeable definitely to the power and conditioning employees and coaching employees that evaluates that within the preliminary evaluation.
“The truth that he’s desperate to get in there [the outfield] this early, we’re nonetheless in February and he’s already out within the outfield. I believe these are all good indicators about the place he’s at and the way he feels about his physique proper now.”
Stanton went 1-for-2, lining a single the opposite manner off a 97 mph fastball up within the zone from left-hander Ryan Weathers.
Whereas his swing adjustments haven’t been something drastic, Stanton mentioned after the sport that he’s simply retaining his arms “a bit of nearer to my physique.”
“Simply getting again to the rhythm,” Stanton mentioned. “My timing’s good. It has been good with it.”
New hitting coach James Rowson indicated that Stanton feeling comfy with the marginally tweaked batting stance was necessary.
“He feels good and that’s an enormous a part of it,” Rowson mentioned. “Hitting is psychological. He feels harmful up there each at-bat. So I believe the work he did within the offseason is beginning to repay for him proper now early on.”
Stanton is coming off the worst season of his profession during which he batted .191 with 24 dwelling runs and a .695 OPS in 101 video games.
However the Yankees imagine Stanton continues to be able to turning issues round after altering his physique over the offseason.
“If he can keep wholesome, it’s completely in there,” Boone mentioned. “He has all of the power and quick twitch to get that accomplished.”
![Giancarlo Stanton catching a fly ball hit by Miami Marlins third baseman Jon Berti #5, in the second inning.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/02/new-york-yankees-right-fielder-77438515.jpg?w=1024)
For now, the progress must are available in small steps.
Because of the intercalary year, Thursday marked the primary time Stanton has performed a recreation within the outfield in February since 2019, although within the lockout-delayed spring of 2022 he did play the outfield in his second recreation of camp.
However Boone mentioned in his preliminary conversations with Stanton upon his arrival to camp this yr, the previous MVP “felt a bit of forward of the curve” by way of getting out within the subject.
The Yankees don’t want Stanton to be a daily within the outfield, however having him be a practical choice there provides them higher lineup flexibility, particularly with Aaron Decide anticipated to want some DH days as a break from his heart subject duties.
Getting lighter within the offseason — with out sacrificing his power, as Boone famous — ought to theoretically assist Stanton transfer round higher within the subject and on the bases.
“At the beginning, hopefully [it helps his] well being,” Boone mentioned. “However positively shifting round, being extra athletic, being extra of a presence working the bases, extra of a practical choice within the subject — all these issues.”
To ensure that that to matter, although, Stanton will want his bodily enhancements to hold over to the plate.
“There’s an incredible hitter there,” Rowson mentioned. “The again of his baseball card doesn’t lie. Baseball’s exhausting. He’s making changes because the years go on and that’s what good gamers do. … I really feel good the place he’s at proper now.”