The Yankees 2026 common season and pursuit of one other American League East title and, most of all, a World Series championship is underway with about as few hitches as a fan may ask for. Despite a troubling start for the underside half of the order, the Yankees have managed loads of runs to win video games (seven of their first 9 to put them 2.5 video games up on the Tampa Bay Rays) by means of wonderful beginning pitching and contributions from hitters 1-5 within the lineup.
One participant that has actually had a scorching start (and wanted it, after solely enjoying 77 video games final season however raking in these video games) is Giancarlo Stanton. However, he didn’t get right here with out some reputable considerations from those that comply with the staff.
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After struggling tennis elbow in 2025, there were reports that the Yankees slugger couldn’t “open a bottle or a bag of chips” due to the ache he felt. So, there have been questions on whether or not or not Stanton would be in a position to return to baseball in any respect, not to mention be his regular self. And whereas 2026 hasn’t appeared the identical thus far when it comes to the facility Stanton has offered, he has nonetheless confirmed to be helpful within the prime a part of the order.
Stanton at present sits with a slashline of .394/.429/.545 for an absurd 182 wRC+ and 0.4 fWAR by means of eight video games. And, sure, that’s a really small pattern, however when somebody like Stanton is main the staff in batting common, hits, and OPS, even for a short while, it’s one thing that’s noteworthy given how far that strays from his regular archetype.
As for the way Stanton has managed these hits, it’s primarily due to a special method on the plate, one which’s targeted on making contact as an alternative of swinging for the fences.
A take a look at Stanton’s Statcast web page on Baseball Savant suggests an method that features slowing the bat down, making contact by means of the zone, and hitting the ball within the air. Stanton’s bat velocity is down 1.4 mph since final season, main to a decrease common exit velocity and a max exit velocity down almost two mph from final yr, however he’s getting the ball off the bottom, sitting with a 72% air price in contrast to a 28% groundball price. And given his body, he’s nonetheless in a position to swing the bat at a quick tempo and provides the ball a good journey to the outfield when want be. He’s barrelling the ball fewer instances, however he additionally has his highest stable contact price since 2021.
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Even if Stanton has barely altered his method, it is just a matter of time earlier than he returns to Earth, or no less than stops hitting almost .400 with out a lot energy. And, at 36-years-old with unhealthy elbows, there’s probably solely a lot his physique can do, and it’s value questioning if he’ll be in a position to get to as a lot energy as he has even lately. Generally talking, it’s probably he’ll nonetheless be an above-average hitter and hit for some insane energy from time to time, however there’s nonetheless some concern within the lesser bat velocity and thump that he’s proven so far, as you want a man like Stanton to have the potential for residence runs each time he steps up to the plate.
While Stanton’s accidents weren’t one thing that would hold him off the sector, they appear to be having an impact on his potential to swing the bat with the identical inhuman power that he has for his entire profession. An alternate method is working for now, however the Yankees will most likely be greatest off if Stanton exhibits off the shape he had of their 2024 run to the World Series and for many of his time on the sector final yr. What he’s achieved thus far may be too good to be true, as Stanton isn’t going to be a man who hits above .300 with out driving the ball more durable than anybody else. We’ll see within the coming weeks how his swing, and his manufacturing, start to stabilize.
