Giancarlo Stanton nearing end of running program, no return timeline set

Giancarlo Stanton is approaching the final stages of his running program as he works back from injury, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters, though the club has not yet set a timeline for the designated hitter's return to game action.

Per Bryan Hoch, Boone said Stanton is "towards the end of his running program, doing well." The workload has grown more demanding in recent sessions, and Stanton has handled the progression without apparent setback, though Boone said he does not yet have a timeline for the next steps.

What happened

Boone provided the update on Stanton's rehab progress without specifying the nature of the injury or when the running program began. The manager indicated that the recent work has escalated in intensity and that Stanton has responded well to the increased demands, but stopped short of projecting when the next phase might begin or when the slugger might rejoin the active roster.

The Yankees have not announced a formal timetable, leaving Stanton's availability for the final weeks of the regular season uncertain.

Why it matters

Stanton's absence removes one of the Yankees' most potent right-handed bats from a lineup that has leaned heavily on its designated hitter slot in recent seasons. The lack of a timeline also complicates roster planning as the club navigates the stretch run. Running programs typically precede batting work and live at-bats, which in turn precede a minor-league rehab assignment. Even if Stanton progresses smoothly through each stage, the calendar offers little margin for delay if the Yankees hope to have him available and sharp for October.

The uncertainty extends to how the club will deploy its roster over the next three weeks. September rosters expand to 28 players, offering some flexibility, but integrating a designated hitter who has been sidelined for an unspecified period requires both at-bats and timing. The Yankees will need to balance the desire to have Stanton ready for the postseason against the risk of rushing him back before his body is prepared for the demands of game action.

Where the club stands

The Yankees are 81-62, second in the AL East and four games behind the Orioles. They hold the top Wild Card position, +8.5 relative to the cut line, and have lost their last game. The club opens a three-game series in Baltimore on Tuesday, with Carlos Rodón facing Shane Baz, followed by Will Warren against Chris Bassitt on Wednesday and Gerrit Cole against Kyle Bradish on Thursday.

The series carries divisional weight: a sweep would pull the Yankees within a game of first place, while a sweep in the other direction would push the gap further back with fewer than three weeks to play. The Orioles series also tests a rotation that has leaned on Cole and Rodón to anchor the staff while younger arms like Warren fill out the back end.

The Yankees have games remaining in the regular season, all of them carrying playoff seeding implications. The club's position atop the Wild Card standings offers some cushion, but the proximity to Baltimore in the division race means every series matters for both seeding and the possibility of hosting a Wild Card round.

What we don't know yet

The Yankees have not disclosed the injury that prompted Stanton's running program, nor have they indicated when he was placed on the injured list or how long he has been sidelined. Boone's comments did not address whether Stanton has resumed hitting, whether a minor-league rehab assignment is under consideration, or what benchmarks remain before the club would clear him for game action.

The absence of a timeline leaves open the possibility that Stanton could return in early September or that his rehab could extend deeper into the month. The Yankees have not said whether the injury is related to any previous ailment or whether it represents a new issue. Running programs are typically prescribed for lower-body injuries or general conditioning work, but without confirmation from the club, the specific nature of Stanton's rehab remains unclear.

The club also has not indicated whether Stanton is working out at the team's facility in New York or at another location, or whether he has been traveling with the team during his rehab. Those details, while procedural, often signal how close a player is to returning to the active roster.

What to watch

The next update will likely come when Stanton advances to the next phase of his rehab, whether that involves batting practice, simulated games, or live at-bats. If the running program concludes without setback, the club would typically move him into hitting drills before considering a minor-league assignment, though the compressed timeline may alter that sequence.

Boone's emphasis on Stanton's response to increased intensity suggests the club is monitoring not just his ability to complete the program but his body's reaction to the workload. Running programs are designed to rebuild lower-body strength and conditioning, and any regression in that phase would delay the subsequent steps. The absence of a timeline, in that context, may reflect caution rather than concern, though the distinction will only become clear as Stanton progresses through the remaining stages of his rehab.

The Yankees' offensive performance in Stanton's absence will also shape the urgency around his return. If the lineup continues to produce without him, the club may afford him additional time to build up; if the offense sputters, the pressure to accelerate his timeline will grow. The Orioles series offers an early test of how the Yankees' current roster configuration handles a high-leverage divisional stretch.

For a player whose career has been marked by both prodigious power and extended absences, the running program represents a familiar ritual. Stanton has dealt with lower-body injuries in the past, and the Yankees have often erred on the side of caution in bringing him back. Whether that pattern holds this time will depend on how he responds to the final stages of the program and whether the club sees enough progress to begin the next phase. For now, the Yankees are waiting to see how he finishes the running work before committing to a timeline.