NEW YORK — Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton wanted nothing to do with the topic.
Stanton was asked on Tuesday afternoon if baseball’s new “torpedo” bats had anything to do with his case of elbow epicondylitis — or tennis elbow — in both arms.
The designated hitter used the new-look design last season. Back in March, at Yankees camp, Stanton mentioned that “probably some bat adjustments” were to blame for the elbow pain.
“You’re not going to get the story you’re looking for,” Stanton said in front of his locker before Tuesday’s series opener against the Diamondbacks. “So if that’s what you guys want, that ain’t gonna happen.”
Stanton was out for the entirety of spring training. In addition to the pain in his elbows, discomfort that he’s described as “severe,” Stanton is also managing a chronic calf issue.
What’s telling is that Stanton is still planning to use the torpedo bats once he returns from the injured list. They’ve been the biggest story of the 2025 season so far after the Yankees swatted a record-tying 15 home runs in their first three games of the year with several players — like Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger — using the new unique bats.
“It makes a lot of sense,” Stanton said, “but it’s like, why hasn’t anyone thought of it in 100-plus years? It’s explained simply, and then you try it and as long as it’s comfortable in your hands, we’re creatures of habit, so bats gotta feel kind of like a glove or an extension of your arm.”
Stanton acknowledged that he will eventually need to go on a minor-league rehab assignment to get live at-bats under his belt before returning from his elbow injuries. He’s been feeling better of late, taking swings off the Yankees’ Trajekt machine — a device that simulates in-game pitch movement and speed — but nothing is imminent.
“I don’t know what you consider close,” Stanton said. “Next week or the following week or something? No. Getting the feel back. Getting the full days back.”
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Max Goodman may be reached at mgoodman@njadvancemedia.com.