New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton continues to be affected by tennis elbow in both arms as the 2026 season approaches.
"I can't open a bottle," Stanton said Wednesday, according to Randy Miller of NJ.com. "I can't open a bag of chips ... a bag of anything. That's the way it is."
Stanton played in just 77 games in 2025, making his season debut in mid-June due to elbow injuries. He's dealt with the ailments since 2024.
"The (public) outlook would be that I wouldn't be (mentally tough) because I've missed games," Stanton said in response to his manager, Aaron Boone, describing the 36-year-old as being a "poster child" for mental toughness.
The 2017 NL MVP opted for rehab instead of a likely season-ending procedure before the 2025 campaign. This year, the five-time All-Star still has the same mindset.
"That's not going to be fixed in surgery, and I don't care what any doctor says because they don't know what's going on," Stanton said. "What's written (about my elbows) is what me and the Yankees give you."
Stanton made a big impact when he was on the field, going deep 24 times with 66 RBIs and a .944 OPS over 249 at-bats last year. He's 47 home runs away from becoming the 29th player in MLB history to join the vaunted 500-homer club.
Stanton is under contract for $34 million through 2027.
