PHOENIX (CBSMiami/AP) — The Miami Marlins are getting closer to having their best offensive player back in the lineup, but by then their season may be beyond repair.
Manager Dan Jennings says Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has been cleared to begin swinging a bat.
Jennings says Stanton saw a hand specialist and was told he could begin so-called “dry swings,” with no ball involved.
Speaking before the Marlins played Arizona on Monday night, Jennings called it “step one” in Stanton’s rehabilitation. Stanton has been out since June 27 with a left wrist hamate fracture.
Despite the three-week absence, Stanton still leads the NL in home runs with 27 and is third in RBIs with 67.