Yankees fans have been waiting for Giancarlo Stanton to replicate the success he had with the Marlins since he arrived from Miami prior to the 2018 season, but injuries have prevented the chance at another 59 home run season.
Despite the smaller sample size in his three seasons with the Yanks, Stanton agrees with his manager’s sentiment that he is a better hitter now than he was when won the National League MVP in 2017.
“I do agree with that,” Stanton said. “I would say I have a better sense of the zone, a different approach to pitchers, the results or whatever statistically could be minute in that term, but I definitely am a better hitter than that point now.”
Stanton’s 1.007 OPS in 2017 is still the highest of his career, and in his only full season with the Yanks, he smashed 38 home runs, drove in an even 100, and finished with an .852 OPS. He played in just 18 games in 2019 but posted an .894 OPS, and dealt with more injuries last season, but once again was productive while he was able to be in the lineup, putting up an .887 OPS.
Stanton knows at this point, the most important factor for his contributions to the Bombers’ World Series quest is to just stay healthy like his 2017-2018 window, when he appeared in at least 158 games in both of those seasons.
“I’m expected to produce the best that I can and to be out there on the field,” Stanton said. “I think that’s the starter. I’m not really worried about the numbers that come if I’m out there.”
The numbers haven’t been there for Stanton because of those injuries, but he certainly looked like his 2017 self in the 2020 postseason, when he drilled five home runs and was the team’s best bat during the playoffs. Many will speculate if that can be sustained through a full, healthy season, but Stanton believes he has evolved past that MVP season, and just hopes for the opportunity to show it through 162 games.
“Have the results showed? No,” Stanton said when asked if he is a better hitter now than he was four seasons ago. “But I am.”
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