It took the Yankees 102 games this season to put Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield.
Twenty-two games later, Stanton is still healthy, thriving at the plate and giving the Yankees a whole lot more lineup flexibility at a time they need it the most as they have surged into playoff position with nine straight wins.
“I think he was looking forward to getting out there, but I also think it’s probably gone better than even he expected,” manager Aaron Boone said Saturday before the Yankees’ series finale against the Twins on Sunday was postponed by Tropical Storm Henri.
“I like it. I do think it keeps him more athletic. Most of the games that he’s been out there, we’ve been able to get him out after six or seven innings. He’s played a capable outfield, he’s made all the plays. He moved around well [Saturday]. Played balls off the wall well and having good at-bats. He’s getting on base a lot and driving in some big runs.”
In 22 games since Stanton first returned to the outfield — he has started 10 games there — Stanton has also swung a hot bat. He is hitting .301/.420/.521 with four home runs, 15 RBIs, 13 walks and 17 strikeouts in that stretch.
“[I’m enjoying it] a lot, actually,” said Stanton, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run double in Saturday’s 7-1 win while starting in right field. “I’ve enjoyed getting back into that routine. Getting better at flinching on foul balls and whatnot — haven’t been out there for a bit, so it’s been good getting that feel like back in the old days.”
Most importantly — aside from him staying healthy and avoiding the soft-tissue injuries that have hindered him in the past — Stanton’s ability to play the outfield has given Boone the ability to get more big bats in the lineup. Instead of Stanton being locked into designated hitter, as he was for all of 2020, Boone has been able to use the red-hot Luke Voit there in two of the last three games, allaying Voit’s playing-time conundrum with Anthony Rizzo taking over at first base.
Putting Stanton in right field means Aaron Judge moves to center field — another possible injury risk. But it also means the Yankees can roll out a lineup that features Judge, Stanton, Joey Gallo, Rizzo and Voit, a formidable row of thumpers for opposing pitchers to get through.
“As the weight of the lineup and quality of at-bats up and down [improves], you’re not always going to break through the first time or second time or even in a given game,” Boone said. “But the more we can have those quality at-bats time and time again, you give yourself a chance usually to break through and have a big inning. They’ve been able to do that here the last few days. Just a lot of really good at-bats.”
Stanton has now started six games in right field and four in left field this season. He had played exclusively right field in Miami.
“But I’ve been working on both sides, so it doesn’t really matter at this point,” Stanton said. “Just whatever helps our lineup the best.”
The push to get Stanton in the outfield more often might not have been as pressing without Voit’s healthy and productive return to the roster. The Yankees traded for Rizzo while Voit was on the injured list for the third time this season, but Voit has come back and made his case for everyday at-bats, going 13-for-26 with 13 RBIs in his last seven games.
“I’m doing everything I can to come up big,” Voit said. “So it’s a lot of fun. This lineup is clicking, the boys are rolling.”
“I’m doing everything I can to come up big,” Voit said. “So it’s a lot of fun. This lineup is clicking, the boys are rolling.”