The New York Yankees are starting their 2025 season with more questions than answers. After reaching the World Series last year and falling short against the Los Angeles Dodgers, hopes were high for a strong comeback.
But as Opening Day arrives, injuries have taken over the spotlight. Several important players—both hitters and pitchers—are missing from the lineup, leaving fans concerned and the team short-handed.
One of the biggest stories has been Giancarlo Stanton, who arrived at spring training with pain in both elbows. His diagnosis—tennis elbow in both arms—meant a complete pause on baseball activities. However, just days before the season begins, there’s finally some good news: Stanton has started swinging a bat again.
Alongside Stanton, pitcher Ian Hamilton is also making progress and could rejoin the team soon. Still, other players like DJ LeMahieu, Clarke Schmidt, and Tyler Matzek remain on the injured list with no firm return dates.
- Giancarlo Stanton has resumed hitting after PRP treatments for elbow injuries but remains uncertain about an early-season return.
- Ian Hamilton begins a Minor League rehab stint, targeting an April 8 return from a viral infection.
- DJ LeMahieu, Clarke Schmidt, and Tyler Matzek remain sidelined with no firm return dates, further stretching the Yankees’ depth.
Stanton’s Return to Hitting Brings Hope to Yankees
Perhaps the most encouraging update for the New York Yankees is that Giancarlo Stanton has resumed hitting. This comes after a long stretch of worry due to a serious injury to both of his elbows. He was diagnosed with elbow epicondylitis—commonly known as tennis elbow—in both arms, which is extremely rare and very tough for a power hitter like Stanton.
This was a major concern because Stanton relied on strength and speed in his swing. His ability to generate power is a big part of what makes him a dangerous hitter in the lineup. However, during spring training, he experienced so much pain in both elbows that he had to completely stop all baseball activities.
To help with his recovery, Stanton received three platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, a medical treatment that uses a player’s own blood to reduce pain and help healing. Thankfully, it looks like the treatment is starting to work. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Stanton has begun swinging again, and manager Aaron Boone said that “it’s been a good couple of weeks” for him.
Nevertheless, it’s important to mention that even though this is a positive sign, Stanton is still not close to returning to games. Right now, he is on the 10-day injured list, and there’s a real chance he could end up on the 60-day IL if things don’t improve fast enough.
Some reporters, like Nick Mongiovi and Cooper Albers from amNY, have predicted that Stanton might miss the entire 2025 season. They pointed out that this wasn’t the first time Stanton had dealt with long injuries. In fact, over the last six seasons, he has missed 353 games out of a possible 858. This year, besides his elbow problems, he’s also dealing with a calf strain. So, even if the elbows heal, he still has more to overcome.
That’s quite the contrast to YES Network’s Michael Kay, who had pegged Memorial Day (May 26) as a realistic target for Stanton’s return. But with the slugger also reportedly dealing with a calf strain and with the PRP injections not being a cure-all, the idea of a full-season absence is starting to feel possible.
Now in the 11th year of his 13-year, $325 million contract, Stanton has already missed 353 out of 858 games over the last six seasons. If surgery becomes necessary, this could be another long layoff.
For the time being, Stanton has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Monday. If his progress stalls, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him moved to the 60-day IL.
While Stanton is sidelined, Ben Rice is filling in at designated hitter. The 25-year-old has shown flashes of promise in limited action and will get a real shot to prove himself in the season’s opening stretch.
Ian Hamilton Begins Rehab Assignment Ahead of Expected Return
There is also good news coming from the bullpen. Ian Hamilton, one of the Yankees’ important relief pitchers, is starting to work his way back. After missing time with a viral infection, Hamilton is now on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
According to manager Aaron Boone, Hamilton will return to the Yankees’ roster on April 8, which is right when the team starts a home series against the Miami Marlins. Hamilton had a solid 2024 season, appearing in 35 games and posting a 3.82 ERA, so his comeback would be at the most fitting time.
He was one of Boone’s most trusted relievers last year and helped hold games together in tough situations. Getting him back in the bullpen would be a major help.
The Yankees have had to manage without several pitchers this spring. Besides Hamilton, Clayton Beeter, Scott Effross, Jake Cousins, Jonathan Loáisiga, and Tyler Matzek are also on the injured list. Matzek, who once helped the Braves win in the playoffs, signed a minor league deal with the Yankees this year and was seen as a potential weapon out of the bullpen. He’s been dealing with an oblique injury since February 25, and the team is hoping he can return by mid-April.
Clarke Schmidt’s Status Remains Unclear After Setback
Next, let’s look at Clarke Schmidt, a pitcher expected to be in the starting rotation. Things haven’t gone well for him either. Schmidt has been dealing with shoulder and back injuries, and he only pitched 1 2/3 innings in spring training before being shut down.
At first, the Yankees hoped Schmidt could return by April 3, but now that seems unlikely. He was supposed to pitch in a Minor League game on Tuesday, but no news followed. That silence has fans worried. In past situations, when there was no update on Schmidt, it usually meant a setback was coming.
But unfortunately, it seems possible he may be out for another month. The team will have to keep using Will Warren and Carlos Carrasco at the back end of the rotation until Schmidt is ready. Warren is young and still learning, and Carrasco, while experienced, is no longer the pitcher he once was. So, the Yankees will need to be careful with how they use both of them in the meantime.
DJ LeMahieu Still Rebuilding Strength After Calf Injury
In addition to their pitching problems, the Yankees are also missing an important part of their infield. DJ LeMahieu has not played since March 1, when he injured his calf during his second at-bat of spring training.
He has since started hitting again and is taking part in light baseball workouts. Even so, he’s still far from being ready. LeMahieu traveled with the team to New York for Opening Day but admitted that he’s still in the early stages of recovery. He even compared this week to “the first week of spring training” for him.
He is expected to go back to Tampa by the weekend to continue his rehab and get more practice. As he missed 95 games last season, he will need more time to fully rebuild his strength and rhythm. It looks like he won’t be back in the lineup until sometime in May.
The Yankees have managed without LeMahieu for a while now. Since 2022, he hasn’t been the same major contributor he once was, but when healthy, he still gives the team experience and depth, especially in the infield.
Yankees Open Season With Several Players Still Sidelined
As the 2025 regular season begins, the Yankees are not starting the year at full strength. They open the season against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium, but many important names are still missing.
Gerrit Cole, the team’s ace pitcher, is out following elbow surgery. Luis Gil, J.T. Brubaker, Clarke Schmidt, Ian Hamilton, Jonathan Loáisiga, Tyler Matzek, DJ LeMahieu, and Giancarlo Stanton are all on the injured list.
That’s a lot of talent unavailable right from the start.
This is not the way the Yankees wanted to begin 2025. After reaching the World Series last year and losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers, they had high expectations. But these injuries have forced the team to make changes and hope the fill-in players can step up.
Put all of this aside, and there are some positive signs. Stanton is swinging again. Hamilton could return within days. Matzek may be ready by mid-April. LeMahieu is slowly working his way back.
So, while the Yankees are not at full power just yet, they are moving in the right direction.
