The impending MLB season is going to be a critical one in the New York Yankees’ quest for the World Series championship. Superstars Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole are passing their prime, which leaves less room for the Bronx Bombers to wait for the right combinations. The 2024 season is the year to attain glory for the Bombers.
However, the quest for glory is easier said than done. While the New York Yankees believe they have a potent roster, the performance of those big names will determine the fate of the franchise. Amid the anticipation around the upcoming season, a former Red Sox legend raised doubts about the Yanks’ key slugger’s lack of clarity and dubious off-season preparations.
Jonathan Papelbon Advises Giancarlo Stanton To Seek Clarity On His Role In The Yankees!
Giancarlo Stanton, the former NL MVP, is arguably the most effective hitter for the New York Yankees after Aaron Judge. However, the slugger has been unable to live up to his potential in recent seasons. The major roadblock shunting his growth is repeated injury concerns. Barring his MVP season, Stanton has been unable to last a 162-game stretch in the entirety of his career. For instance, last season, he spent half of the year on the injury list with hamstring issues. While he returned as DH in the final half, the slugger was nowhere close to being his usual self. Instead, he became a burden when he restricted himself on the base, thus costing the team valuable runs.
Thus, ahead of the crucial season, Giancarlo Stanton resorted to a proactive approach and is expected to go lean on his physique. The slugger will lose some weight to improve athleticism and also avoid injury concerns in the near future. However, former Red Sox legend Jonathan Papelbon does not believe it’s the right approach for Stanton. Jonathan urged the slugger to know his role in the team. He feels Giancarlo is built to hit home runs and not run fast around the bases. Instead of shedding weight, he should rather focus on getting his mechanism right and elevating home run-hitting efficiency. “Mass equals gas, and mass equals home runs, in my opinion,” said Papelbon. Undoubtedly, hitting home runs is Stanton’s actual role in the team. However, to achieve that, he has to prioritize his health first.
Giancarlo Stanton Determined To Bounce Back In 2024!
At the conclusion of the 2023 MLB regular season, New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton was extremely gutted to have missed the postseason. However, he did promise a turnaround in 2024. Stanton recorded his career-worst batting average of .191 in 2023. He struggled with health and failed to meet desired fitness standards.
Thus, ahead of the big season, Giancarlo Stanton is confident of an imminent bounce back on the plate. Besides opting for a lean approach, Stanton confirmed he would work on his mechanics. But overall, staying healthy would be a top priority. As long as the slugger can stay healthy, he firmly believes he can produce an ever-lasting impact on the Yankees’ overall campaign.
