The acquisition of Giancarlo Stanton was deemed a major game-changer for the New York Yankees. The slugger was coming off an MVP season and was naturally expected to play a major part in the resurgence of the Pinstripes. However, things began unraveling for Stanton in 2019 as injuries began taking hold of his body. Year after year, things remained the same as fans wondered whether the team had made a mistake in acquiring an expensive player like him. With the 2024 season right around the corner, will the same story repeat again?

GM Brian Cashman had shared that Stanton had changed his workout plan and diet. With the slugger looking particularly less bulky, could he avoid those injuries and return to his best? 

Giancarlo Stanton looking to find his hitting form 

One of the most striking features of 2022 and 2023 was the apparent ineffectiveness of Stanton on the plate. It was surprising to see one of the most prolific hitters struggling to connect with the baseball. One question began circling every fan’s mind – Were injuries finally taking their toll on his hitting abilities? The Athletic’s Andy McCollough recently talked about this and the possible comeback of Big G.

McCollough noted that Stanton had lost “his effectiveness since the middle of 2022” due to injuries. The source suspected that the slugger could just get injured again. After all, Stanton has played over 110 games only once in 2018. GM Brian Cashman had also made a similar statement earlier in the offseason, which proved to be controversial with fans. 

So can we see Big G back at his best? While that’s a tough prediction, one can see how his previous seasons have gone. Before 2022, Stanton’s hitting average had never gone below .240. But in 2022 it collapsed to .211 and while one hoped that’d be the nadir, in 2023, it went underground with a .191. 

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Similarly, his WAR dipped from 3.1 in 2021 to 0.7 in 2022 and -0.8 in 2023. While 2022 could’ve been an anomaly, 2023 could very well be a sign of a decline. Luckily the Yankees have prepared for the worst-case scenario this offseason.

The New York Yankees look more balanced than before 

While there’s still hope for Stanton’s return to form, the Pinstripes have nonetheless prepared themselves well. McCollough wrote that by adding Trent Grisham and Alex Verdugo, the Yankees have made themselves “less reliant on Stanton if he continues this downward trend.” So while the Pinstripes have kept themselves ready,  Stanton is working hard to make a strong comeback. 

Despite a low hitting average, Stanton still hit 24 homers in 2023. So there’s clearly power left in his bat. With more consistency and fewer injuries, Stanton could return to his 2021 level. Even if he doesn’t, the Yankees seem better equipped to deal with his absence this time.

Read more: New York Yankees Hope to Avoid Injuries, as Crucial Spring Training Juncture Nears Amidst 2024 Redemption