Stanton roots for ‘next big thing’

MIAMI — The Next Big Thing from Giancarlo Stanton’s alma mater has accomplished something the Miami Marlins slugger never did as an amateur: make the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Hunter Greene, expected to be a top-two pick in next month’s MLB draft, is about to graduate from Notre Dame High in Sherman Oaks, Calif., the same school Stanton graduated from in 2007.

“He beat me to it. I couldn’t get it in high school,” said a smiling Stanton, who since has appeared on the front of a February 2015 issue of SI. “He’s a baller, though. Hopefully he goes 1-1 [first overall.]”

The SI cover declares Greene “the star baseball needs” and asks: “Baseball’s LeBron or the new Babe?” The latter half of that question is a reference to Greene’s skill set. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder is a shortstop, able to hit balls 450 feet clear out of major league ballparks, and a pitcher, able to throw it 102 mph.

Whichever path Green takes as a professional, he’s already reached a degree of fame at an age Stanton — who broke into the big leagues as a 20-year-old in 2010 — can’t quite relate to.

“Usually you have that type of popularity with college, when you’re walking around a college campus. I don’t know how that is,” said Stanton, who didn’t go to college. “[When] you’re like that in high school it’s a whole ’nother level.”

Stanton has met Greene, who almost certainly won’t last until the Marlins’ first pick at No. 13, and has bought equipment for Greene and the rest of the Notre Dame High baseball team.

MARK J. TERRILL/AP High school pitcher Hunter Greene, left, is featured on the current week’s cover of Sports Illustrated. Green attends the same high school that Giancarlo Stanton did.