Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins right fielder
What’s up: Stanton arrives in Lodo on Monday on the cusp of baseball history, having slugged 56 home runs entering the weekend. Six more homers and he will be the single-season champion, passing the 61 that Roger Maris hit for the 1961 Yankees. Wait, what about Mark Mcgwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds? In my book, they are drug-aided, asterisk sluggers. How compelling a character has Stanton been this season? Consider some numbers that ESPN national baseball writer Jerry Crasnik put together. Stanton has swatted his 56 homers off 48 pitchers in 13 ballparks. Those homers have traveled a total distance of 4.42 miles at an average exit velocity of 108.9 mph, second-highest in the majors behind Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.
Background: Casual Rockies fans probably became aware of Stanton for the first time on May 21, 2012. He was just 22, and he was facing 49-year-old Jamie Moyer, who was filling out a very bad Rockies rotation. Keep in mind that Stanton was born more than three years after Moyer made his big-league debut in 1986. It was the mother of all mismatches. In the fourth inning, Stanton hit a grand slam off Moyer that traveled an estimated 438 feet and shattered several panels in the video scoreboard above the stands in left field at Marlins Park.
Saunders’ take: Three years ago, Stanton’s career flashed before his eyes. He was hit in the face by a pitch and suffered multiple facial fractures, dental damage and lacerations that required stitches. It was the type of moment than can ruin a player’s career, but Stanton came back stronger than ever. Now, his career in Miami in front of those paltry crowds at Marlins Park could be over. Rumors have already surfaced that the Giants, Cardinals, Rangers and Phillies are interested in making an offseason trade for the slugger. Those teams would have to pick up what remains of the record 13-year, $325 million contract he signed in 2014. I would love to see Stanton go to St. Louis, where his skills and flair for the dramatic would be showcased.