With little time left, Giancarlo Stanton's return remains in doubt
MIAMI -- With a week remaining, it looks unlikely Miami Marlins All-Star slugger Giancarlo Stanton will return before next Sunday's season finale in Philadelphia.
"It would be pretty tough," manager Dan Jennings said. "It's the big leagues, and these guys are trying to finish off on a positive note as well, so it'd be difficult to get there, but again -- we have left it in his court to feel that hand and tell us."
Stanton underwent surgery on a left hamate fracture June 28. The initial timetable called for him to be out 4-6 weeks.
At the beginning of September, Stanton had three plate appearances in a rehab game with Single-A Jupiter and was expected to rejoin the club, but he experienced a setback. When the team went to New York two weeks later, Stanton took batting practice with the team but visited a hand specialist the next day, learning he had scar tissue.
Per Jennings, Stanton last took batting practice four days ago. If he doesn't decide to return, Stanton is unlikely to travel with the team when they close out the season on the road against the Rays and then the Phillies. He has 27 homers and 67 RBI over 74 games, which earned him his first All-Star fan vote.
"Right now, we're getting close to that nay or yay date," Jennings said. "Where that is, I don't know when that will be, but I know right now there's still the scar tissue and the strength. It's the same two issues, but we're down to eight games remaining and it's getting close to where he's going to have to say, 'Yeah, I'm going to give it a shot' or 'I'm just going to shut it until next year.'
"It's on him and the testing it and being ready to swing. It'd be nice to insert his name, but right now, no."
Asked what the benefit would be for Stanton to reappear in the batter's box, Jennings gave the answer he has for every player that has nursed an injury over the past month.
"I think it would just be his peace of mind getting out there, swinging, seeing it live, make sure he feels good about it and testing it against major-league pitchers," Jennings said.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
