The Yankees are waving the white flag on one aspect of Giancarlo Stanton‘s game.
The designated hitter has limited how fast he runs to try and prevent injury in the regular season and now it’s already cost the Yankees in the postseason. In their Game 1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, Stanton was unable to score on an Oswaldo Cabrera double or plate a run on a potential infield single.
Despite the high stakes in the postseason, Stanton is still holding back with his legs and the Yankees approve.
“It is something we’ve kind of got to live with,’’ Aaron Boone said Sunday on a Zoom call with reporters. “Whether you’ve seen it over the years with a particular player that is incredibly slow that’s an impactful player, it’s something we’ve got to live with.
“He’s got to do what he’s got to do. He’s trying to get to what is his top speed in a fluid way, as best he can.”
The 34-year-old ranked in the third percentile in baseball in sprint speed as the 19th slowest player in baseball in 2024 — just behind the Royals’ Salvador Perez, who was thrown out fairly easily by Juan Soto at home plate in Game 1 on a play that seemed to be an easy run-scoring opportunity off the bat.
“It’s a controlled gait he knows he’s got to get into,’’ said Boone of Stanton’s sprinting. “He’s burned himself when he’s tried to throttle back up or down. That’s when he knows he’s been caught.”
The veteran went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Saturday. However, the Yankees believe his bat is too important to take out of the lineup, so they will live with his shortcomings elsewhere. Stanton slashed .233/.298/.475 with 27 homers and 72 RBI.
NESTOR THROWS
The Yankees got some good news from one of their injured starters. Nestor Cortes played catch on Sunday as he recovered from a flexor strain in his left elbow and all went well, pitching coach Matt Blake told the Daily News.
Boone told reporters on Sunday that Cortes is working towards a return at some point during the postseason. However, it remains up in the air if the 29-year-old will be able to contribute this October.
Cortes made 30 starts this season pitching to a 3.77 ERA.
VERDUGO BACK IN LINEUP
After being the hero in Game 1, Alex Verdugo will be back in the lineup on Monday against Royals ace Cole Ragans, Boone said on Sunday.
Despite Ragans being a lefty, the manager is opting to sit switch-hitting Jasson Dominguez in favor of the hot hand.
Verdugo made a run-saving catch and added the game-winning hit on Saturday.