Giancarlo Stanton officially opening season on injured list in Yankees blow

TAMPA — It was all but certain even before Giancarlo Stanton left camp last Monday to tend to a personal matter, but now it is official: The Yankees DH will begin the season on the injured list.

The team announced Saturday that Stanton will be out to start the year because of tennis elbow in both arms. After playing through the elbow injuries last season — including a monster playoff run — the 35-year-old slugger reported to camp having not swung a bat in three to four weeks because it flared back up over the offseason.

“Just running out of time,” manager Aaron Boone said after a 9-3 win over the Astros at Steinbrenner Field. “The biggest thing is getting him right. If that costs us a little bit on the front end, so be it. I do feel like we’ll get to a good spot with this. It’s a long year.”

Stanton received a PRP injection in both elbows last week while in New York for personal reasons.

He remained in New York on Saturday while continuing his treatment regimen, but is expected to return to camp this week, a team spokesman said.

While the Yankees have already acknowledged that the pain in his elbows is something Stanton will have to manage throughout the year, they are trying to get it settled enough before he begins baseball activities.