Rehabbing Yankees Slugger Could Make Season Debut Vs. Red Sox, MLB Insider Says

The rich are poised to get richer.

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reports New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton is set to begin a rehab assignment this week.

On top of that, SNY’s Andy Martino reports the Yankees could activate Stanton “As soon as late (this) week.”

That would put Stanton on track to make his season debut against the Boston Red Sox, who host the Yankees for a three-game series at Fenway Park beginning Friday.

The Red Sox took two of three from the Yankees this past weekend, including an 11-7 win to close out the series Sunday night in the Bronx.

Stanton landed on the injured list during spring training with tendinitis in both elbows.

With the 35-year-old Stanton sidelined, Ben Rice has been seeing extended time in the Yankees’ lineup. And he’s delivered, hitting 12 home runs while slashing .327/.497/.825.

According to Martino, “Only four MLB players are hitting the ball harder than Rice this season, as measured by average exit velocity: Oneil Cruz, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso.”

Of course, Stanton’s calling card is destroying baseballs. He hit 27 home runs in just 114 games last season, then clubbed another seven long balls in the Yankees’ run to the World Series.

If Stanton can return and stay healthy (and that’s a big if for someone who’s missed significant time in each of the last six seasons), he will team with reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge to form perhaps the best 1-2 combo in baseball.

Judge is hitting an MLB-best .396 with 23 home runs and 55 RBI.