KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Giancarlo Stanton has finally been cleared to take the next step in his rehab — involving continuous steps in motion, otherwise known as running.
The Yankees’ veteran designated hitter underwent another round of imaging on Tuesday that “showed a lot of improvement” in his right calf, manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday, allowing him to start a running progression outside this week.
It still remains to be seen how long that process will take before Stanton is in a position to rejoin the Yankees from his calf strain — it typically builds up to running the bases — but the 36-year-old has been hitting all along, which should expedite his comeback.
Stanton had said last week that he was feeling better than the imaging had indicated — his last MRI on May 11 showed the strain still lingering — but Tuesday’s tests finally seemed to match up.
“I think he wants it fully clear, but I think we got enough news today that allows us to take that next step to where hopefully the running goes in line with how he’s feeling and we can start to ramp up,” Boone said before the series finale against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
“Hopefully not too much longer.”
The Yankees have missed Stanton during the month he has been out, not just the production but his presence as a right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup to better break up their left-handed heavy lineup.
Stanton and Jasson Domínguez could be on similar tracks for a return, as Domínguez is ramping up baseball activities this week from a mild AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. Boone said by next week, both Domínguez and Stanton could be in a position to take live batting practice, with a rehab assignment potentially to follow for Domínguez.
José Caballero started in left field Wednesday for the first time this season, with Anthony Volpe starting a third straight game at shortstop. Instead of playing third base (where Ryan McMahon slotted in) or second base (where Amed Rosario started), Caballero got his first outfield action of the year, allowing Boone to shift Cody Bellinger to center field and sit Trent Grisham against Royals left-hander Noah Cameron.
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That also meant a day off for Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was batting .400 with a 1.138 OPS over his last 12 games.
“With the stretch we’ve been in and getting some different personnel back now, opportunity to get a couple guys in there that I want to keep active,” Boone said.
The Yankees’ 24 hits on Tuesday were their most since July 30, 2011, a lineup that had Derek Jeter leading off against Orioles starter — and future Yankees reliever — Zack Britton.
