Giancarlo Stanton: Miami's Power Surge

Author:
Christina M. Tapper
Publish date:
Jul 15, 2014

The Name Game

In the minors, Stanton continued to put his Herculean swing on full display. In 2010, he smacked a home run over 500 feet as a clean-up hitter for the Double A Jacksonville Suns. "He probably hit one of the farthest balls I've ever seen — over the scoreboard. It took off like a rocket," said former Marlins pitcher Dan Meyer, who witnessed the shot. "It was pretty amazing for a 20-year-old kid. [That home run's] got to be in the 550 [feet] range."

Sweet Swing

Stanton's home runs have also led to busted windshields during spring training in Jupiter, Florida. "There are a lot of cars parked around the ballpark. [When I hit one out of the stadium], I can hear glass shattering sometimes," Stanton says. "No one has sent me a bill. That's for the Marlins [to handle]!"

Photos: ROB TRINGALI/SPORTSCHROME/GETTY IMAGES, RONALD C. MODRA/SPORTS IMAGERY/GETTY IMAGES, ROB FOLDY/GETTY IMAGES