Right now, the New York Yankees are managing three different injury situations that could affect how they move forward this season. Jake Cousins was pulled from his rehab assignment after feeling pain in his elbow. Marcus Stroman is scheduled to make his first rehab start for Double-A Somerset. At the same time, Giancarlo Stanton has officially started his rehab games and had a strong showing at the plate. Each case is different, but all are important as the Yankees head into their weekend series at Fenway Park.
- Jake Cousins was pulled from his rehab assignment due to right elbow discomfort and has undergone an MRI; results are pending.
- Marcus Stroman is scheduled to make his first rehab start on Wednesday for Double-A Somerset after dealing with left knee inflammation.
- Giancarlo Stanton began his rehab assignment with Somerset, going 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI, showing progress in his return from elbow tendinitis.
Jake Cousins’ Rehab Paused After Elbow Discomfort
Starting with Jake Cousins, he had been working his way back from a forearm and pectoral injury that began during spring training. He was on a rehab assignment when the Yankees stopped it because he felt something in his right elbow. Manager Aaron Boone said Cousins told the team that “he felt some stuff in his elbow,” which led to the decision to shut him down.
Cousins, who is 30 years old, then had an MRI and met with doctors on Tuesday. The team is still waiting on full results, and it’s not the first time Cousins had imaging done. An MRI back in February showed no structural damage to his ulnar collateral ligament. But the new pain raises new concerns.
Cousins has not pitched yet in 2025. Last year, he appeared in 37 games and had a 2.37 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP. He also had eight holds and got one save in one chance. In those appearances, he struck out 53 batters in 38 innings. His absence has been noticeable, especially with the bullpen working hard this season.
Marcus Stroman Set for First Rehab Start in Double-A Somerset
While the Yankees are still waiting for more news on Cousins, they’re seeing progress with Marcus Stroman. Stroman is scheduled to start a rehab game on Wednesday for the Double-A Somerset Patriots. This will be his first time back on the mound since mid-April.
Stroman last pitched for the Yankees on April 11 against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium. He was taken out of the game early, and the next day, April 12, he was placed on the injured list with inflammation in his left knee. Since then, he has had two separate setbacks due to discomfort in the same knee while trying to ramp back up.
So far this season, Stroman has made three starts. In those games, he gave up 12 earned runs in 9.1 innings. Earlier in spring training, there were some questions about his role since the team had five other starters. Stroman made it clear that he planned to stay in the rotation, though that all changed when Luis Gil suffered a lat injury and Gerrit Cole was ruled out for the season with an elbow injury. These events gave Stroman a spot in the rotation before he got hurt.
Now, as he gets ready to pitch again, the Yankees will need to figure out how to fit him back in. The current rotation includes Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, Will Warren, and Ryan Yarbrough. Boone has not said exactly what the team will do, but moving Yarbrough back to the bullpen is one option.
Giancarlo Stanton Begins Rehab Assignment with Strong Performance
The Yankees also received a positive sign from Giancarlo Stanton. On Tuesday night, Stanton played in his first rehab game for Double-A Somerset. He was the designated hitter and batted second. In that game, he went 2-for-3, walked once, and drove in three runs. He had a two-run single and an RBI single in his last two at-bats.
Stanton has been dealing with tendinitis in both elbows. The issue got worse in January and forced him to stop hitting during the offseason. He had been managing the condition last year and still ended the postseason strong. He was named ALCS MVP after hitting seven home runs in 14 postseason games.
Since early April, Stanton has been hitting against high-speed pitching machines. Last month, he started taking live batting practice. At the Yankees’ facility in Tampa, Florida, he had been getting 5–7 live at-bats per day to get back into game shape.
Manager Aaron Boone said Stanton would play again on Wednesday, also in Somerset. The Yankees will then decide whether he’ll play Thursday. Boone said the team will decide on a plan for the weekend after seeing how he feels. The Yankees are set to face the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park this weekend, but Boone did not commit to a return date.
Boone added that Stanton will have input in the decision. “He knows himself so well,” Boone said. “He knows what he needs as far as live reps, machine stuff, and then building up his body. He’s a pretty good evaluator.” Boone also said, “Just making sure he’s had the necessary reps that… when he’s ready to join us, he’s Big G.”
Aaron Judge also shared how important Stanton is to the team. He said, “Everyone in this room can’t wait to see him,” referring not just to Stanton’s power but his leadership in the clubhouse.
Stanton’s Return Could Shift Playing Time for Several Yankees
Once Stanton is ready, the Yankees may need to shuffle their lineup. Ben Rice has been the main designated hitter while Stanton has been out. Paul Goldschmidt and Trent Grisham have also played key roles in the offense. Jasson Domínguez is another name to watch.
With Stanton back, Boone might give Goldschmidt more rest at first base. Rice, who has mostly been used as a DH, could play first base a few times a week. Rice also plays catcher but has only made five appearances there since joining the Yankees last June.
The Yankees are testing different ideas. Goldschmidt was seen taking ground balls at second base, even though he has never played there in his nearly 2,000 career games. There’s also talk of using a more flexible setup—maybe Rice at third base, Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second, Goldschmidt at first, and Stanton as DH. These are just ideas the team is exploring.
Last month, on May 7, Stanton was seen taking batting practice and appeared to be swinging carefully. His performance in Tuesday’s game shows improvement. According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, the Yankees announced that Stanton would begin his rehab assignment and that they expect him to return in less than two weeks.
