Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton’s second Home Run Derby turned out to be a special experience.
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Stanton put on an unprecedented show on the way to defeating defending champion Todd Frazier in the finals, 20-13.
Stanton proceeded to launch 61 home runs, besting Bobby Abreu’s 2005 record in the contest by 20 homers. The three-time All-Star is not on the NL roster for tonight’s game.
Coming out of the worst slump of his career, Stanton hit five homers in the Marlins’ final five games before the break, including a game-deciding 442-foot shot Sunday. The ESPN broadcast crew, announcers and cameramen both, really, really wanted to see someone hit the scoreboard out in left center field, something that no one has done yet in regulation play. Stanton hit first and he completely crushed it, hitting 24 home runs. But his 14 homers came up short of Stanton’s 17.
That set up for an intriguing final between Stanton and last year’s champion Todd Frazier. Physically, Stanton has all the tools to be one of the best – potentially to challenge records and become the greatest home run producer in Marlins’ history. “… I didn’t hit one over 440”. You could tell early on it was Stanton’s night. He has the two longest homers in the majors in that time (494 and 490 feet).
Frazier, traded to Chicago in December, defeated the Reds’ Adam Duvall in the semifinals, 16-15. Going into the Home Run Derby he had to be the favorite as he has displayed unbelievable power in batting practice throughout the past couple years. Fernandez was among several All-Star pitchers expressing interest in participating in the Home Run Derby.
Although the betting favored, Stanton was seeded No. 5 and had the disadvantage of not knowing how many homers he’d need to advance. The 61 home runs he hit were more than the Atlanta Braves hit in the first half of the season. But Mark Trumbo of the Baltimore Orioles beat him out with 16 after taking a time out and hitting eight straight dingers in a row.
Tomorrow he’ll be a spectator just like hundreds of professional baseball players and millions of fans to watch the Midsummer Classic at Petco Park.
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Giancarlo Stanton didn’t hit the sign, but he earned the free beer. In the last two years, the player going last has won every head-to-head matchup, except the three matchups featuring Stanton.
