Giancarlo Stanton, the reigning ALCS MVP, is one step closer to rejoining the New York Yankees. Stanton will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with the Double-A Somerset Patriots on Tuesday, the team announced. He has not yet played this season due to what amounts to tennis elbow in both elbows.

But the Yankees already have to sit one of Ben Rice, Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez, Cody Bellinger or Paul Goldschmidt on a daily basis, and soon two of them (adding Stanton into that group) will be out of the lineup on a given day as long as they all stay healthy.

The New York Yankees are hoping Giancarlo Stanton is on his way back to the lineup. The superstar slugger has not played this season while dealing with an elbow injury, but is closing in on his return,

Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton was 3-for-7 with four RBI and a walk in two rehab games with the Somerset Patriots this week, but a scout watching feels the slugger isn't ready to hit major-league pitching. Photo courtesy Somerset Patriots

Yankees right-hander Marcus Stroman allowed just one run over 3 1/3 innings in his first rehab start for Double-A Somerset on Wednesday, while slugger Giancarlo Stanton had another hit in his second rehab appearance with the club.