Stanton to IL (hamstring strain); Yankees summon Peraza

NEW YORK — Giancarlo Stanton launched a booming drive off Yankee Stadium’s left-field wall in the seventh inning of Saturday afternoon’s 6-1 win over the Twinsthe type of blast that prompted almost everyone in the ballpark to expect a home run: even the sound engineer, who triggered a celebratory siren.

Dropping his bat and beginning a trot toward first base, Stanton realized that his drive off the Twins’ Jorge Alcala had the necessary velocity, but not the height to reach the visitors’ bullpen. Stanton ran harder, feeling his left hamstring grab as he pulled into second base with a double.

Stanton gestured toward the bench, calling for a pinch-runner, and glumly told manager Aaron Boone that he wouldn’t be playing for a while. That came to pass on Sunday afternoon, as the Bombers placed the outfielder/designated hitter on the 10-day injured list.

Boone said after the Yankees’ 2-0 victory on Sunday that he was not prepared to discuss the outcome of Stanton’s MRI exam, but ESPN reported that Stanton was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain, which the club has not confirmed. The likely recovery time would be four to six weeks.

“He was moving around OK after the game, but he definitely felt like it was an IL [situation]before even getting the MRI,” Boone said prior to the finale of a four-game set with the Twins.

Stanton had been one of the Yanks’ most productive hitters in the early going, slashing .269/.296/.558 (14-for-52) with three doubles, four homers and 11 RBIs. He reached base in 12 of 13 games, hitting safely in 11 of them.

“There’s no good timing for it,” Boone said. “I know he’s really frustrated. But it’s an opportunity for people we have confidence in. We can mix and match, and get some other people back here in the next days and the next couple of weeks. We’ve got to make do.”

In a corresponding move, the Yankees recalled infielder Oswald Peraza from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Peraza, 22, competed with Anthony Volpe for the starting shortstop job this spring and is ranked as the club’s No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Peraza’s stay in the Bronx may be short. Third baseman Josh Donaldson is scheduled to play in a Minor League rehab game on Tuesday for Double-A Somerset, and he could be activated on Wednesday if all goes well. Outfielder Harrison Bader is also nearing a Minor League rehab assignment, which could take place this week.

Stanton has endured a litany of lower-half injuries in recent seasons, including IL stints for a left hamstring strain (Aug. 9-Sept. 15, 2020), a left quadriceps strain (May 17-28, 2021), right ankle inflammation (May 25-June 4, 2022) and left Achilles tendinitis (July 26-Aug. 25, 2022).

“He’s got an awesome build and physique. He works very hard to try and avoid these things,” Boone said. “But unfortunately, it is something that’s happened with him.”