After the Yankees’ 9-4 win over the Astros on Wednesday, Juan Soto, perhaps the best hitter in the game, marveled at Giancarlo Stanton.
“and [Stanton], his ball strength is amazing,” Soto said. “You don’t see players hitting the ball at 120 degrees.” [mph] every night. “
Unless it’s Stanton.
Stanton, whose development has slowed due to age and is no longer matching the MVP-caliber play he had for much of his time in Miami, showed for the second straight night why he is still a feared hitter.
The 118.8 mph laser home run off Justin Verlander against Houston in the Bronx on Tuesday was the second-hardest hit ball in the majors this season, behind the 119.2 mph hit last month.
On Wednesday, Stanton outdid himself with a 119.9 mph homer over the left field against struggling Houston right-hander Spencer Arrigetti.
Aaron Boone called Stanton “weird” and a “unicorn” for Tuesday’s home run. He was almost speechless Wednesday, repeating the “bizarre” description.
Stanton’s home run was one of the Yankees’ three home runs on the night, along with one by Soto and Aaron Judge.
When asked what impressed him most, Boone thought for a moment and replied, “If you hit one 120, you win.”
Wednesday’s shot was Stanton’s eighth of the year and his third-hardest hit in the Statcast era. Not surprisingly, he has two of his remaining.
And like the rest of the Yankees, he had a blast with the Astros this year, hitting three home runs in five games.
He also has six home runs in his last 11 games with Houston.
“That’s impressive,” the judge said of Stanton’s latest outburst. “He’s playing the baseball well and using the whole field. That’s when you know he’s solid. It’s been fun to watch him this year, especially trying to bounce back from last year.”
Of course, last year was an ugly year, with Stanton hitting an unsightly .191 with an OPS of .695 and struggling to stay healthy again.
Stanton’s OPS became even more respectable at .758, allowing Boone to keep him in the middle of the lineup.
And Stanton is still the active home run king in the majors, with 410 hits.
Before Mike Trout was injured again, it looked like the Angels’ slugger might have a chance to approach Stanton’s mark this season, as Trout was second on the list with 378. However, Trout has a torn meniscus in his knee that will require surgery, so he will likely continue to play. For the time being, that number will serve him.
Joey Votto, No. 3 on the list with 356, is still rehabbing an ankle injury he suffered in the spring, shortly after signing with the Blue Jays.
So it will be a while before someone catches Stanton.
When asked what this mark means to him, Stanton replied: Why wouldn’t it be cool to have something like that? But at the same time, it feels a little old. ”
And the longer you hold onto your home run milestone, the better.
“It’s always going to happen at some point that someone will figure it out, but it’s good to try to keep it that way,” Stanton said. “It not only shows how many years you played, but it shows how productive you were. If I can add more to that, that means I’m still being productive. .”
Stanton’s average exit velocity has decreased each of the past three seasons, but it’s still among the best in the league.
His power numbers are also down, with him walking less this year than at any other point in his career. And Stanton’s numbers, once one of the best fastball hitters in the game, have fallen as well.
But for the past two nights, you didn’t know that.
