The Yankees’ 2026 season is underway, and the team is off to a good start. They are aiming for another American League East title and a World Series championship. Despite struggles from the bottom of the batting order, the Yankees have won seven of their first nine games, putting them 2.5 games ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays. This is thanks to excellent starting pitching and contributions from hitters 1-5 in the lineup.
Giancarlo Stanton has had a particularly strong start. After playing only 77 games last season, he is proving useful in the top part of the order. His performance comes after concerns about his health.
Stanton’s Surprising Stats
In 2025, Stanton suffered tennis elbow, leading to reports that he struggled with everyday tasks due to the pain. This raised questions about his ability to return to baseball. While his power hasn’t been the same so far in 2026, he has still been productive.
Stanton currently has a slashline of .394/.429/.545, a 182 wRC+, and 0.4 fWAR through eight games. While it’s a small sample size, it’s noteworthy that Stanton is leading the team in batting average, hits, and OPS. This is especially significant given that it deviates from his typical style.
A New Approach at the Plate
Stanton’s success is primarily due to a change in his approach at the plate. He is now focused on making contact rather than swinging for home runs.
Statcast data suggests that Stanton is slowing down his bat, making contact through the zone, and hitting the ball in the air. His bat speed is down 1.4 mph from last season, resulting in a lower average exit velocity and a max exit velocity down almost two mph from last year. However, he’s hitting the ball in the air more often, with a 72% air rate compared to a 28% groundball rate. He also has his highest solid contact rate since 2021.
- Bat speed is down 1.4 mph since last season
- 72% air rate compared to a 28% groundball rate
- Highest solid contact rate since 2021
Concerns About Sustained Performance
Even with Stanton’s altered approach, it is likely that he will eventually regress. At 36 years old with elbow issues, there are limits to what his body can do. There are questions about whether he will be able to maintain the same level of power as in recent years.
It’s likely that he will still be an above-average hitter and occasionally hit for significant power. However, there are concerns about the reduced bat speed and power, as Stanton is expected to have the potential for home runs every time he comes to the plate.
While Stanton’s in the lineup, the Yankees have a better chance of winning.