Stanton Plays Outfield for First Time This Spring for Yankees

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New York Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton played five innings in right field during a spring training game on Friday, his first game action in the outfield this preseason. This is seen as a positive development for the Yankees, who want to keep the outfield option available in case they need to use someone else as the designated hitter during the regular season.

Why it matters

Stanton is a powerful hitter but has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, so the Yankees are looking for ways to keep him healthy and in the lineup as much as possible. Playing some outfield could help them achieve that goal, though he is unlikely to see significant time there during the regular season.

The details

In addition to Stanton's outfield appearance, Yankees relievers David Bednar and Tim Hill returned from playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic and each tossed a scoreless inning of relief. The team's scoreboard at Steinbrenner Field also experienced technical issues, forcing the public address announcer to provide the count manually for the first four innings.

• Stanton played five innings in right field on Friday, March 21, 2026.

What’s next

The Yankees will continue to monitor Stanton's progress in the outfield as they prepare for the upcoming regular season. Their next spring training game is on Saturday, March 22, 2026 against the Detroit Tigers.