Giancarlo Stanton Connects

 

Giancarlo Stanton remains the best reason to keep an eye on the Miami Marlins. Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, the slugger who last winter signed the largest contract in baseball history, launched the fastest home run I've ever seen in a major league ballpark. Fastest? What other word could I use? The ball exploded off Stanton's bat. Or should I say ignited?

I have never seen a ball come off a bat and head toward the fence any more quickly than what Phillies radio voice Scott Franzke called "a supersonic blast." I have seen such legendary sluggers as Mantle, McCovey, Schmidt, Stargell and Pujols. But I have never seen anyone light up a ball the way Stanton did Thursday.

That home run off Justin DeFratus pushed Miami's lead to 8 - 0, in a game that would mercifully end 9 - 1.

Stanton's laser landed in the left field seats, as you can see from where the fans were looking.
Baseball needs a new generation of stars to take over as Jeter, Griffey and Chipper bow out. Stanton, along with Mike Trout and perhaps Yasil Puig, has the talent and charisma to connect with fans and become a "Face of the Game."

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