ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. Juan Soto took a big whiff at strike three in the third inning Tuesday night and immediately grimaced in a concerning look. The Yankees star remained in the game and was back in the lineup Wednesday, going 2-for-4 . But manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that uncomfortable-looking swing was due to the right hand discomfort that Soto has still been feeling at times after banging it on the ground against the Blue Jays on June 28. Juan Soto steals second base in the eighth inning of the Yankees 2-1 win over the Rays. Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports Every now and then, hell take a swing where it bothers him a little bit or a swing-and-mi s where it bothers him, Boone said Wednesday at Tropicana Field. But overall, hes doing pretty well with it. Its obviously not affecting his ability to impact the ball much. Soto homered a few innings after initially sustaining the bruised hand and was scratched from the lineup the next day because he was having difficulty swinging the bat. Explore More He was a late addition to the lineup the following day after it had improved enough and has not mi sed a game since, though he entered Wednesday batting 5-for-29 (.172) with eight walks, one home run and a .662 OPS in eight games since the injury. Hes definitely been grinding through some things, but not something that I think any of us are too worried about, Boone said. Giancarlo Stanton, who did quite a bit of running on Tuesday according to Boone, could be in a position to play in games when the Yankees return from the All-Star break next Friday. Giancarlo Stanton could return to the Yankees lineup soon after the All-Star break. Robert Sabo / New York Post The team is still debating whether Stanton, coming back from a hamstring strain that he suffered on June Kevin Knox Jersey 22, will need a rehab a signment before coming back. Stanton mi sed six weeks with a hamstring strain last year but only played in one rehab game before returning to the Yankees. He homered and doubled in his first two games back but then fell into a slump. Well consider all that, Boone said. Some of the tools we have at our disposal now change the game a little bit with how guys are able to get ready and see things. Well try to make the best decision for everybody. The Yankees signed lefty reliever Tim Mayza to a minor league contract after he was designated for a signment and released by the Blue Jays. Mayza, who gave up Aaron Judges 61st home run in 2022, had an 8.03 ERA in 35 appearances this season for the Blue Jays with his velocity down. But it was only last year that he posted a 1.52 ERA acro s 69 games, which the Yankees are hoping they can tap back into. Well see what we have, Boone said. Pretty good track record. Its been a tough year for him but hes been a guy thats performed really well in the AL East. Its a low-risk flier for the Yankees, who are expected to be active in the reliever trade market by the July 30 deadline. Go beyond the box score with the Bombers Sign up for Inside the Yankees by Greg Joyce, exclusively on Sports+. Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Their bullpen has struggled overall but particularly their lefties, with Caleb Ferguson and Victor Gonzalez (who has already been DFAd) not pitching up to their potential. DJ LeMahieu took a beating at the plate, getting hit on the left pinky by a 92 mph fastball and later fouling off a ball that bounced up and hit him on the neck, just below his jaw. After being tended to by a trainer and Boone both times needing a longer breather in the second instance he remained in the game. Seemed like he got better as we went, Boone said. DJ felt like yeah, hes 100 percent, hes fine. Pay attention to it, but I think were all right. Soto stole second base in the eighth inning, marking the Yankees first steal since June 14 snapping a 21-game streak without one. Theo Pinson Jersey