Stanton’s flash of spring power whets club’s appetite
TAMPA, Fla. — Spring training is the season for hyperbole. No one is denying that (see Sanchez, Gary). But words are one thing. Data is another. And when gauging the status of Giancarlo Stanton this early in March, the numbers don’t lie.
In Sunday’s game, Stanton’s two doubles — or “missiles,” as DJ LeMahieu referred to them — lit up the radar gun at 109.8 mph and 109.4. LeMahieu doesn’t get overly excited during interviews, especially the Zoom variety. But what Stanton does at the plate, generating such ridiculous power with apparent ease, can coax superlatives from the most low-key observer.
“That’s Big Gfor you right there,” LeMahieu said.
As for the meaning behind those triple-digit scores, it’s basically G being G, as Stanton has registered MLB’s highest exit velocity every season since the statistic first became a thing in 2015 (the league average is around 89 mph). His personal best was 122.2 mph, in 2017, also the year Stanton won the NL MVP with 59 home runs, 132 RBI and a 1.007 OPS.
The other key stat for that season? Stanton’s 159 games played. He can’t do damage from the injured list. But as long as he’s standing upright, and in the lineup, Stanton has the ability to produce the spectacular on a
nightly basis.
“Giancarlo is healthy, and that’s the bottom line for him now,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Stanton was fully functional last October — and nearly unstoppable, smacking six home runs over 31 plate appearances against Cleveland and the Rays. That’s the Stanton the Yankees fantasized about in making the December 2017 trade with the Marlins, when they also agreed to pick up more than $260 million of a contract that runs through 2027.
The reality? Those glimpses of Stanton have been few and far between, primarily due to injuries that limited him to 18 games in 2019 (three HRs,.894OPS) and 23 games (out of a 60) in last year’s pandemic-shortened regular season (four HRs, .887 OPS). Based on Stanton’s massive share of the Yankees’ payroll, the only way he can make that swap worthwhile is to help them win No. 28 at some point (also 29 and 30 wouldn’t hurt). But if Stanton can stay on the field anywhere near as much as he did during that first season in pinstripes (158 games, 38 HRs, 100 RBI), the assault on opposing pitchers should continue.
“The idea is to be out there battling with the team as much as possible to change that narrative,” Stanton said earlier in spring training. “As well as to just go out and do what I can and what I need to do to stay out there and not keep it as a thought all the time.”
The Yankees already have floated the idea of using him some in the outfield, although it would seem safer to better protect him in the DH spot. Boone certainly will pump the brakes with him down herein the Grapefruit League, and the way his swing already looks now, it’s just a matter of seeing pitches, then packing him in bubble-wrap for the trip north.
“Stanton’s been barreling up the ball,” Aaron Judge said after Sunday’s game. “Kind of looks just like his playoff form that he was last year. He’s looking great.”
Stanton pummeled Phillies starter Zack Wheeler for the first-inning double Sunday, a screaming line drive into left field. In the fifth, his second double came off former Yankee Ivan Nova, and it came off his bat like a 3-iron smash into the teeth of a sturdy wind. The shot fooled Phillies center fielder Roman Quinn, who was cheating in and no doubt was surprised to see someone get a ball like that over his head, given the blustery conditions.
That’s all Stanton has to keep doing this spring: keep raking with an easy swing and be careful on the base paths. In late February of last year, Stanton suffered a grade 1 calf strain during routine defensive drills with the outfielders and was going to be sidelined for Opening Day — before the start of the season was postponed anyway due to COVID-19.
Five months later, when play finally resumed, Stanton soon wound up on the injured list again shortly after the restart with a left hamstring strain. It’s been a disturbing cycle, and one that doesn’t seem to fit with a player that — at least for appearance’s sake — looks indestructible.
“I don’t know if he can grow anymore in physical stature because the guy’s an absolute beast,” said Derek Dietrich, the former Marlins outfielder who signed with the Yankees last month. “We developed a special bond down in Miami, because we both like to take care of ourselves physically and put in work. G works harder than almost anyone I’ve ever played with. He’s always taking extra reps in the cages and doing extra conditioning. It’s definitely a blessing to be back on the same field with him.”
Back on the field is good. In Stanton’s case, staying there is better.