TAMPA – It may just be early March, but Giancarlo Stanton is already releasing some impressive Statcast numbers.
Stanton’s first shot of the spring was a double to the left on Sunday in a 4-0 victory over the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
He jumped off the Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler, and his exit speed was measured at 109.4 mph.
Then, in the fifth, DH drilled a double center to depth, this time in front of Ivan Nova and recorded a speed of 109.8 mph.
“He seems ready to leave,” said DJ LeMahieu. “It simply came to our notice then. This is Big G for you there. ”
The Yankees are relying on several of Stanton’s, who have failed to stay healthy for most of the past two seasons, before breaking into last year’s playoffs with six homers in seven games.
“Stanton got stuck with the ball,” said Aaron Judge. “It looks just like its playoff form from last year.”
Aaron Boone spoke brilliantly about Stanton’s approach over the spring, saying the 31-year-old has matured like a hitter and in some ways may be better than in 2017, when Stanton hit 59 homers. and won the NL MVP while with the Marlins.
He was traded to the Yankees in that off-season and hit 38 home runs in his freshman year in the Bronx while battling a hamstring injury and has since been limited to 41 games this season. regularly in the last two seasons.
The flashes Stanton showed in October last year – and again on Sunday – left the Yankees excited about what might follow, but they still need to prove they can stay on the field.
“Giancarlo is healthy and this is the result for him now,” Boone said.
While Stanton hit the ball harder than anyone else on Sunday, Brett Gardner provided the only runs with his big slam in the second half on Wheeler.
“That’s the idea [Gardner] something to talk about with the big boys, “Boone said of lowering the right field line.” That will put some air in his sails. “
The judge said the slider was down and in and “right in [Gardner’s] wheelhouse. ”
More important than running home is the quality of the 37-year-old bat, after signing just before the camp opened, following a lengthy free agent trial.
“I liked the way it looked,” Boone said.
The manager added that he told striker Marcus Thames that Gardner could really be ahead of where he was a year ago at the moment, but Thames disagreed.
Anyway, he managed to wait for Wheeler’s breaking ball for his first spring race and then took a walk on Ivan Nova.
Boone said there are no plans yet to make cuts to the major league camp, but they will take advantage of Monday’s day off to rearrange where some players are, with more players on the 40-man list expected to moves from the minor league complex to Steinbrenner Field by Tuesday.
Asked what he noticed most about his team right now during spring training, Boone said: “Our depth stood out to me. We are trying to set up the teams for a few days and there are many good players to get in there. ”
He also praised “business-like hunger and unilateral training.”