"He should stop playing": Fans criticize Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton for missing Spring Training due to elbow injury

Sluggish reactions are coming from the fans towards the New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton for missing Spring Training due to an elbow injury. Reportedly, Stanton, who is nursing a tennis elbow in both his arms, flew back to New York for further medical testing, per various reports including The New York Post.

His not being present in the Yankees' spring training camp in Tampa raised concerns among the fans and analysts alike."Definitely not just soreness. It’s a manageable thing, that's how the year last year and this year will go," Stanton said during the recent meeting with the reporters. Stanton was not very sure whether he would be ready for Opening Day, thus raising questions about the Yankees line-up for early-season games.

Stanton, a victim of injuries in recent years, has been an All-Star five times. Hitting .233, with 27 home runs and 72 RBIs in 114 games, he battled a left hamstring strain that cost him more than a month on the sidelines in June. However, he enjoyed a postseason breakout with a .273 average, seven homers, and 16 RBIs, leading the Yankees back to the World Series for the first time since 2009. The 35-year-old stated that elbow pain plagued him for much of last season and will now require treatment during Spring Training.
Stanton explained “The pain was very high in general,” Stanton said. “Tennis elbow or however they call it, is tears in your tendon, so it’s not when did it feel good, when did it feel bad? There’s always the pain level there and you got to deal with that. So, yeah, it’s just the wisest point to give time right now.” However, fans are starting to grow frustrated, particularly with his recurring injuries that seem to limit his performance year after year.
The outcry from fans has been swift, with many voicing their dissatisfaction over Stanton’s inability to stay healthy. Some fans took to social media to share their thoughts:

“Bro’s gotta stop playing tennis,” one frustrated fan wrote. “The first double Tommy John in the history of baseball?” another quipped, referencing Stanton’s history with injuries. “Man, I’d love to see what this guy’s career HR total would be without all his injuries,” a fan lamented. “Cut him loose already. Injuries all season,” another posted, expressing doubt over Stanton’s long-term value.“ Waste of money. I’m tired of seeing him injured every year,” one fan summed up the sentiment.
Giancarlo Stanton's future is rather nebulous as the Yankees gear up for what would be their season-opener against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 27. It will be critical for him, both personally and from a 2025 standpoint, to return to form again and to stay healthy.