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Miami Marlins baseball has been relatively dreadful over the past couple of years, but the fans had something to celebrate Sunday night when Giancarlo Stanton began to circle the diamond, becoming MLB’s newest player to reach 50-home runs.
STANTON IS THE KEY
Stanton not only got his 50th homer, but he did it with a tiebreaking hit in the eighth inning, helping the Miami Marlins sweep the San Diego Padres in a three-game series with a 6-2 victory. The Marlins’ three-game sweep and fourth consecutive victory left them with 13 wins in the past 16 games.
The Marlins are currently fighting for a Wild Card spot and need all the help they can get from the MVP candidate thus far.
Stanton’s 50th home run tied the record for second-most home runs in the month of August, leaving only Rudy York’s 18 home runs in 1937 ahead of him. Miraculously, Stanton is currently on pace for 63 home runs this 2017 season, according to SBnation.com.
CAN HE REACH 60?
If Stanton passes 60, he’ll be just the sixth player to do so in the history of the MLB. The other five have been Sammy Sosa in 1998, 1999 and 2001; Barry Bonds in 2001; Mark McGwire in 1998 and 1999; Roger Maris in 1961; and Babe Ruth in 1927.
After signing the most expensive contract in North American sports at the time, many believed that Stanton wasn’t worth the $325 million. But after three years from signing day, the California native has proved himself to be one of the most dominant players in the league.
Stanton won the home run title in 2014 and also won the Home Run Derby in 2016. All of this at only 27 years old and he’s still developing as a player.
With five weeks left in the regular season, it seems possible for Stanton to make his mark in history even if he has a couple of off days. He’s hit 24 homers in his last 41 games. Let’s just all hope that he doesn’t get too comfortable.
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