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By Aaliyan Mohammed
Contributing Sports Writer
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The New York Yankees have been playing Aaron Judge at designated hitter while he recovers from a right flexor strain. Doing so has forced Giancarlo Stanton into right field.
Stanton has made three starts in the outfield since Judge's injury, marking the first time since 2023 he appeared there. When Judge is ready to play defense again, Stanton figures to slot back in as the designated hitter. Aaron Boone announced what the next series against the St. Louis Cardinals could look like for Stanton.
"If Aaron's not ready to go, I'll have him as an option there," Boone told reporters after the Yankees' Tuesday win. "Obviously a bigger field and different setup there but I think we have to keep it as an option."
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Stanton's bat needs to be in the lineup. Over the last few years, Stanton has been noticeably slower and injuries have caught up to him. In fact, he is in the first percentile for sprint speed, per Baseball Savant. Despite his age and injuries, he is willing to play in the outfield to help the team win.
This season, Stanton has a .300/.376/.586 slash line in 42 games. He has hit 12 home runs and is showing how important he is to the team's offense. Having him and Judge in the lineup together gives the Yankees two real power threats.
Judge could return to the outfield soon, but as he works through his injury, Boone may keep giving Stanton some days in the outfield. However, they may not want to put him at any further risk of injury unless necessary.
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