Yankees activate Giancarlo Stanton from injured list

Throughout this tough week of both injuries to Corey Kluber and Luke Voit and multiple losses to the division rival Blue Jays, the one good news that Yankees fans could cling to was that Giancarlo Stanton seemed to be nearing a return. He was first eligible to come back on Tuesday but needed a few more days before the Yankees felt comfortable activating him.

Now, Stanton is back. The team announced that the big guy would be joining them in Detroit for the three-game set beginning tonight. There was already an open roster spot since the Yankees demoted Esteval Florial after his one-game doubleheader cameo. The team might have taken its time with his rehab, but considering how much of an injury risk Stanton is, I don’t really blame them. Anything to help increase the odds that he doesn’t quickly return to the IL is worth it in a long season. Stanton had carried the offense for a month and a half prior to his quad injury, batting .282/.347/.534 with a 146 OPS+ and 9 homers in 33 games.

To say that the Yankees will be glad to have him back in the lineup is an understatement. The offense has been scuffling due to poor health from Voit and Aaron Hicks, as well as steep drop-offs from 2020 production by the likes of DJ LeMahieu, Clint Frazier, and Brett Gardner. Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela need some help. Ideally, Stanton will bring it and restore some normality in a hurry.