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Marlins right fielder Mike Stanton is only 21 years old, but he's threatening to lead the NL in home runs. He currently has 28, which trails the great Albert Pujols by two in the entire National League. And Stanton doesn't get by with cheap homers either. No, he gets his money's worth with prodigious shots. Just two days ago, Stanton hit one 474 feet. It was his third home run over 450 feet this season, while 13 have gone at least 425 feet. According to ESPN's home run tracker, Stanton is tied with Justin Upton for the big-league lead in "no doubt" homers with 11.
The best part about Stanton, however, is that he doesn't showboat on his home run. He simply drops his bat and starts running the bases.
Stanton told MLB.com that he doesn't feel like he's earned the right to draw attention to himself when he hits home runs. When pressed on if he'd ever show up a pitcher, he answered honestly.
“If they threw at me, for no reason,” he said (MLB.com). “Or to intimidate me or whatever, then I will. If I’m upset about something.”
Now, I'm sure some would argue he still shouldn't show the pitcher up, but let's remember two things: 1) He's only 21; 2) He's only speaking in hypotheticals. We don't know if he'd actually do anything. Our only evidence at hand is Stanton just hitting absolute moonshots and then running the bases like he's done it 500 times before. And if the pitcher didn't come at Stanton first, he said "there's no reason to (showboat)."
Stanton also noted he's terrified a ball will not clear the fence and he'll be thrown out at second base.
Whether it's fear, respect for the game or Stanton just being a cool customer, it's refreshing to see a young player refuse to showboat on home runs that travel so far past 400 feet. Many others could learn from him, including 10-year veterans.
The best part about Stanton, however, is that he doesn't showboat on his home run. He simply drops his bat and starts running the bases.
Stanton told MLB.com that he doesn't feel like he's earned the right to draw attention to himself when he hits home runs. When pressed on if he'd ever show up a pitcher, he answered honestly.
“If they threw at me, for no reason,” he said (MLB.com). “Or to intimidate me or whatever, then I will. If I’m upset about something.”
Now, I'm sure some would argue he still shouldn't show the pitcher up, but let's remember two things: 1) He's only 21; 2) He's only speaking in hypotheticals. We don't know if he'd actually do anything. Our only evidence at hand is Stanton just hitting absolute moonshots and then running the bases like he's done it 500 times before. And if the pitcher didn't come at Stanton first, he said "there's no reason to (showboat)."
Stanton also noted he's terrified a ball will not clear the fence and he'll be thrown out at second base.
Whether it's fear, respect for the game or Stanton just being a cool customer, it's refreshing to see a young player refuse to showboat on home runs that travel so far past 400 feet. Many others could learn from him, including 10-year veterans.
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