Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton missed the first two-plus months of last season due to tennis elbow (epicondylitis) in both arms, an issue he’s been dealing with since 2024.
It’s still an issue for the slugger now in 2026.
Stanton told NJ.com on Wednesday that he has “good days and bad days” with his elbow pain, which still keeps him from doing common tasks.
“I can’t open a bottle,” Stanton said. “I can’t open a bag of chips … a bag of anything. That’s the way it is.”
Once Stanton made his 2025 season debut on June 16, he battled through pain to hit 24 home runs and post a .273/.350/.594 slash line in 77 games. The Yankees have held Stanton out of Spring Training games so far this year, but he says he feels good while hitting in the batting cage, facing live pitching and doing outfield drills.
Stanton is scheduled to make his spring debut on Tuesday when Team Panama visits Steinbrenner Field. The team believes that two weeks of regular at-bats will be enough for him to be ready for Opening Day on March 25 against the Giants.
Even as he continues to deal with daily pain, Stanton said he's looking forward to playing a full season this year.
“Just get me in the box,” he said. “The key is get in the box.”