Despite suffering a Grade 3 left groin strain that most figured would end his 2016 campaign, Giancarlo Stanton returned to the wild-card contending Miami Marlins on Tuesday.
OFFICIAL: Giancarlo Stanton has been reinstated from the Disabled List and is activated for tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/UVfXgm9V8T
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 6, 2016
Stanton, who has 25 home runs and 70 RBIs this season, suffered the injury Aug. 13 against the White Sox on the final play of the game. He went on the disabled list the next day and was initially given a six-week timetable.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Stanton could return for the final week of the regular season if things go "absolutely perfect." But the slugger apparently healed exceptionally fast as the three-time All-Star didn't even play in the final weekend of the minor league regular season.
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With one win over their last 10 games entering Tuesday's matchup with the Phillies, the Marlins hope Stanton can provide a late-season resurgence and close the five-game gap behind the Cardinals for the final wild-card spot.