Giancarlo Stanton Will Play Through Pain Despite Being Unable to Open Bag of Chips

The New York Yankees are counting on Giancarlo Stanton to anchor the middle of their lineup in 2026, but the veteran slugger revealed this spring that he’s playing through pain far more serious than most realized. 

Stanton is dealing with tennis elbow in both arms, and even after a full offseason of rest, he admitted the condition isn’t going away.

“That’ll never be the case,” Stanton said when asked if the pain might eventually disappear. “Not while I’m in this line of work. You have your good days and bad days.”

Stanton Reveals the Reality of Daily Pain

Stanton offered a startling look at how much his elbows limit him in everyday life.

“I can’t open a bottle,” he told NJ.com. “I can’t open a bag of chips … a bag of anything. That’s the way it is.”

Giancarlo Stanton plans to make his spring debut next week and play a full season despite tennis elbow preventing him from doing simple tasks pic.twitter.com/dvlQ5VUsYP

— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) February 26, 2026

Despite those limitations, the 36-year-old is still preparing to generate some of the highest exit velocities in the sport. After missing significant time last season, Stanton returned to hit .273 with 24 home runs and a .594 slugging percentage in just 77 games, showing just how impactful his bat remains even while managing constant discomfort.

Yankees Banking on Stanton’s Toughness

Stanton has resisted the idea of surgery, explaining that a typical recovery timeline doesn’t match the physical demands of his job.

“You get the surgery and you can go back to being in the general population in a few months,” he said. “But my job is to put some of the most force into a batted ball. That’s not going to be fixed in surgery, and I don’t care what any doctor says because they don’t know what’s going on.”

Giancarlo Stanton on his elbow injuries: pic.twitter.com/em5SnasRC3

— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) February 26, 2026

Manager Aaron Boone has called Stanton “the poster child of mentally tough,” and the slugger’s mindset reflects that approach. His focus is “Just get me in the box. The key is get in the box.”

The Yankees are taking a cautious approach this spring, holding Stanton out of early Grapefruit League action while building him toward Opening Day. 

But with the active home run leader sitting at 453 career blasts and the team chasing another deep postseason run, New York’s hopes may once again depend on a power hitter who is competing through extraordinary pain every single day.

Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images