Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton out with a calf injury

TAMPA, Fla. – Giancarlo Stanton went through the most frustrating year of his career in 2019, limited to 18 games because of an assortment of injuries.

But at least the outfielder left spring training with the team healthy.  

That is not likely to be the case this year.

After the Yankees rain-shortened 8-2 victory over the Nationals Wednesday afternoon at Steinbrenner Field, Aaron Boone disclosed that Stanton suffered a Grade 1 strain of his right calf, putting the start of the regular season in jeopardy.

“He’ll be down for a little bit,” Boone said.

The injury occurred toward the latter part of Stanton’s workday Tuesday, “kind of at the end of his defensive work,” Boone said.

Stanton, who underwent an MRI early Wednesday that showed the strain, initially was not overly worried.

“I don’t think he thought it was that big a deal, just a little soreness, and then [he] came in this morning, felt better,” Boone said. “But we sent him - just to be safe - to Dr. [Daniel] Murphy. He examined him and everything, and it [the MRI] showed the strain, so it’s going to be a couple of weeks.”

Assuming no setbacks during that time frame – which, given the Yankees spate of injuries the last two season, few fans of the club would make that assumption – will the 30-year-old Stanton be able to get enough work in the rest of the spring to get ready for the season-opener March 26 in Baltimore?

“It will probably put us up against it a little bit,” Boone said. “I would say it’s time for him to get back, but then [the time crunch is] getting him built back up. We’ll see.”

Stanton was one of the MLB-record 30 players the Yankees put on the injured list last season and he was there multiple times. A left biceps strain landed him on the IL April 1, then left calf tightness cropped up during a rehab assignment May 20. After returning to the Yankees June 18, Stanton went back to the IL June 26 with a right knee sprain.

“Hopefully this is just a small bump that doesn’t slow him much,” Boone said.

A healthy Stanton likely would have seen more games at DH than not, but the Yankees still intended to play him on occasion in left.

This most recent injury potentially opens up an opportunity for Clint Frazier, who when given a chance in the majors has shown big-league ability with his bat but glaring deficiencies with his glove. A wild card could be Miguel Andujar, whom the Yankees are giving reps in left and at first this spring (in addition to third base). Andujar played his first game in left Wednesday and, naturally, the day’s first ball, a routine fly by Victor Robles, was hit to him. Andujar galloped in to make the catch, even calling off shortstop Gleyber Torres.

“He just started smiling back at me,” Andujar said through his interpreter.

Andujar, who turns 25 March 2, has been taking balls in the outfield – as well as at first base and third, his natural position – much of the winter.

“The last time I played the outfield I was a kid, I was probably 11, 12 years old,” Andujar smiled. “I’ve been with the Yankees for a long time [he signed in 2011] now and I’ve only played third base. But thank God everything worked out fine. Everything we’ve been practicing, all the drills and everything, progress has been there.”

There has not been discernible progress on the injury front for the Yankees so far this spring as Stanton joined James Paxton and Luis Severino among those sidelined but Boone would not use the word “snakebit” to describe his feelings on it.

“No,” Boone said. “It’s disappointing because you want to get guys going and built up, but it’s just a little bump in the road, and we’re equipped to handle it.”