Giancarlo Stanton Is On Pace For Breakout Season

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Last season was as bad as it will ever get for Giancarlo Stanton in his prime years. In 116 games he collected 24 home runs, 62 runs batted in, 106 hits and compiled a batting average of 249. Stanton not only had to fight through injuries but had absolutely no protection in the lineup what so ever. Fast forward to this season and through 15 games Stanton looks like the best power hitter in the game of baseball. As I’m typing this the native of Panamora City, California has 20 hits, 12 runs scored, 5 home runs, 21 runs batted in and has a batting average of 317. Stanton has had some pretty good years in his young career but could this be the year that he elevates himself to superstar status?

Stanton is a grown man with a baseball bat in his hand, any time he steps up to the plate he can turn a 97 mile per hour fastball into a 500 foot mammoth homerun. Stanton now is currently leading the major leagues in runs scored (12), RBI’s (21) and total bases (40). Not only is he the healthiest he’s been in his major league career but the Marlins finally have added protection for him in the lineup and as a result of that he is seeing more pitches to hit. Casey Mcgehee who played last season in Japan was signed in the offseason and has slid right into the cleanup spot hitting behind Stanton. The Result of that for him has been 13 runs batted in and a 309 batting average. Stanton now is on pace to shatter his career high for runs batted in of 87 set back in 2011 and is in line for his very long overdue first 100 RBI season. There is still a lot of baseball left to be played but you have to love this start for Stanton early on.

Stanton has been smashing the cover off the baseball these days, in fact he holds 3 of the top 5 home runs in major league baseball this year (1st: 484 feet, 3rd: 469 feet, 4th: 457 feet). It’s been pretty impressive to watch from a far and he only seems to be getting better as the year progresses. Back in 2012 he led the Majors in slugging at 608. and now his slugging is at 635, so that’s another interesting thing to keep track of. His great start this year is definitely due to the Marlins as whole hitting better as a team. Just last season they ranked dead last in nearly every offensive category, well now they are top 5 in batting average, runs and on base percentage. Stanton’s team may only be 6-9 now but its still early and the schedule is about to soften up a bit, if the late game pitching can catch up with the offense maybe the Marlins can make some noise this year and Stanton can be in the MVP race.

The crazy thing about the development of Stanton is that he is just beginning his evolution as a complete player and that’s a scary thing for the rest of the Major Leagues. “This might sound a little odd but he hasn’t even scratched the surface of how good he can be as a player” said Jeff Baker as he was talking about his teammate. Stanton has never been much of a base stealer but that’s something he has the potential to get better at as time moves, he has 15-20 stolen base potential. Along with that he is improving in right field as far as his range go, because he is healthy his lateral quickness looks like the best it’s been since he arrived to the majors. Add the improving range with a great arm and he has gold glove potential as well. Stanton has the chance to win an MVP in this league and the more complete he comes the more people will begin to see that. He is definitely do for that breakout year everyone’s been waiting for