Why struggling Giancarlo Stanton won’t overhaul his swing
Last June, Giancarlo Stanton revamped his swing, adopting a closed stance that resulted in almost immediate success in Miami.
Stanton went from a home run every 14.6 plate appearances before June 19 to a homer every 9.8 plate appearances following the change.
This season, Stanton is off to a rough start with the Yankees, but he said before Wednesday’s game against the Astros that he wouldn’t undergo any significant alterations to his swing or approach this season.
“It’s too much of an adjustment to make in the middle of a season,’’ Stanton told The Post.
Reminded he made the change during the mid-part of last year, Stanton said he already is dealing with a different environment in The Bronx and a new league.
“To reverse everything now wouldn’t be good,’’ Stanton said. “Not with all the other new things around and the new surroundings.”
Instead, he and the Yankees will have to hope minor adjustments will be enough to make a difference.
“I’ve made tweaks and I feel like I’ve made some progress, but I take some steps forward and then some steps back,” Stanton said. “That’s kind of where I am right now. I’m working on little tweaks here and there.”
He finally snapped an 0-for-20 stretch on the homestand with an infield hit in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday, but hasn’t approached the production anyone thought he would bring when he was acquired from the Marlins in December to join a lineup that includes Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.
The fact the Yankees have played well in spite of Stanton’s rough first two months has eased some of his concerns, but he said he isn’t pleased with how his season has gone.
“There’s absolutely frustration,” Stanton said. “But the winning helps. Even with that, though, I still need to do more and will do more. … It’s not showing on the field, but I still feel like I’m getting there.”
Aaron Hicks entered Wednesday hitless in 13 at-bats on the homestand, but manager Aaron Boone still values what he brings to the team.
“When he’s not getting hits, he’s getting on base 35 percent of the time,’’ Boone said. “And he’s a real center fielder that can really legitimately play center field. He has power and in a lot of ways is still a young player who’s still developing and is highly productive.”
That’s Boone’s polite way of saying you shouldn’t expect to see Clint Frazier back in The Bronx any time soon, regardless of how well he hits with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
“[Frazier] continues to grow and establish himself as a big part of our future,’’ Boone said. “Aaron is a really good player for us and plays a premium defensive position. You can’t just fire anyone out in center field.”
Tyler Austin was given the start at first base against lefty Dallas Keuchel, his first action since the return of Greg Bird on Saturday. With the Orioles scheduled to start four right-handers during the upcoming series in Baltimore, Austin’s playing time may be limited again. The Yankees kept Austin on the roster after Bird returned, instead of Ronald Torreyes.
Boone said Luis Severino would start one of the games of the doubleheader on Monday in Detroit and the team was discussing who would pitch the other game. Boone said he preferred to have a starter as opposed to using it as a bullpen day.