The New York Yankees have been navigating life without slugger Giancarlo Stanton since April 24, when a calf strain forced him to the 10-day injured list. But on Saturday, the team received a promising update that could signal a return to the lineup sooner rather than later.

According to YES Network’s Meredith Marakovits, Stanton reported that his calf is improving and he was able to take swings in the batting cage on Friday. The plan now calls for a pool workout on Saturday, followed by more swings on Sunday.

"Giancarlo Stanton said his calf is improving," Marakovits reported. "Hit in cage yesterday and will hit again tomorrow. Doing workout in pool today. Seems encouraged by progress."

This news comes as a relief for a Yankees squad that has missed Stanton’s power bat. Just days after the injury, manager Aaron Boone remained cautious, saying, "It doesn’t look too serious, but enough to not want to wait a couple of more days."

For Yankees fans, Stanton’s latest setback is a familiar story. Since joining the team in 2018, the 36-year-old—who turns 37 in November—has been a regular on the injured list. While he managed 158 games in 2018 and 139 in 2021, he has not played more than 114 in any other season of his Yankees tenure. His most injury-plagued campaigns came in 2019 and 2025, when he appeared in just 18 and 77 games, respectively, and he played only 24 of 60 games during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

The laundry list of injuries includes elbow, hamstring, quadriceps, ankle, and Achilles problems. In 24 contests this season, Stanton has three home runs, 14 RBIs, and a .256 batting average.

In his absence, the Yankees called up one of their most promising young players, Jasson Dominguez, from Triple-A. Dominguez impressed during spring training and played 123 games in 2025, tallying 10 home runs, 47 RBIs, and a .257 average. However, he has struggled since his call-up, going 1-for-9 (.111) with two strikeouts in three games.

With Stanton’s return looking imminent, the question remains whether Dominguez will stay in the majors. For now, the focus is on Stanton’s steady recovery—a welcome sign for a team that needs his bat back in the heart of the order.