Giancarlo Stanton unsure he'll return this season

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Monday, September 7, 2015

Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stantonnow is unsure whether he'll be able to return to the lineup this season as he tries to recover from a broken left hand.

Stanton said he was "a little bit" worried that he wouldn't be able to return for any of the final 25 games of the season. He has been sidelined since June 26, at which point he led the majors with 27 homers and 67 RBIs.

"There's always a possibility [of not returning], but [that's] not what I'm looking for," Stanton told reporters Sunday.

"It's my pinkie and ring fingers' strength, they're lacking. To have no grip strength, to have no feeling at first, that's what I'm coming back from. So that's taking way longer than I could have anticipated, coming from zero."

Stanton had hoped to return last week after playing in a rehab game, but he took a few days off after experiencing additional discomfort. He was scheduled to try to hit off a tee Sunday.

"To have no grip strength and no feeling at first, that's what I'm coming back from," Stanton said. "It's taking way longer than I could've anticipated."

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