KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When something needs to be said, Giancarlo Stanton ensures his voice is heard. He may not be the loudest or the most bombastic in the room; in fact, he’s one of the most reserved players on the New York Yankees. Yet, when he speaks during hitters’ meetings, everyone knows to pay attention.
“His words mean something,” hitting coach James Rowson said. “He’s not just always talking. He’s going to talk when something matters. That’s kind of how he works.
“I can tell you, internally, he’s got a powerful voice, and we love when he uses it because his experience goes a long way with our group.”
Stanton lets his bat do most of his talking. In moments when he’s struggled or faced an injury, he has always taken accountability without hesitation. Yet, he once remarked, “I don’t get paid to be a standup guy or say the right things. I’m here to produce and help us win a championship.”
On Wednesday, he showcased exactly why he’s one of MLB’s highest-paid sluggers. In the fourth inning, Stanton launched a 114.1 mph screamer that struck the left-center field wall for an RBI double, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Four innings later, with the score tied at 2, he crushed a towering solo home run over the left-field wall. It was his 12th home run in just 30 postseason games for the Yankees, pushing them ahead 3-2. That was all the Yankees needed to secure Game 3 and take a 2-1 series lead over the Kansas City Royals, setting the stage for a chance to advance to the American League Championship Series with a win Thursday.
Stanton launched a home run on a 3-1 count against Royals reliever Kris Bubic, but it was the 2-1 pitch that set in motion the silence that enveloped Kauffman Stadium moments later. Bubic delivered a slider that narrowly missed the bottom of the strike zone. Stanton tracked it all the way into Royals catcher Salvador Pérez’s glove. On the next pitch, Pérez. signaled for a slider up-and-in, but Bubic missed his spot. It landed in nearly the same location as the 2-1 slider. This time, Stanton didn’t let it go by.
“This is what I came here for.” – @Giancarlo818 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vFUbxjzrzM
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 10, 2024
“It wasn’t a bad pitch,” Stanton said. “Just got under the shape, was on time and was able to scoop it out.”
Hours before first pitch, Stanton was on the field taking early batting practice, with assistant hitting coach Casey Dykes manning the pitching machine and Rowson and bench coach Brad Ausmus watching from behind the cage. In between swings, Stanton, Rowson and Ausmus would watch the video to make sure Stanton’s mechanics were in sync.
When his batting practice finished, Stanton walked down the dugout steps toward the clubhouse with a smile that stretched across his face. His teammates knew one of this generation’s most-feared sluggers was ready for liftoff.
“From first at-bat to last at-bat, I could see how locked in he was,” Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. “He was doing his thing all day. Even from the cage work before the game watching him swing, you can see he was really locked in with his work. I expected a big day from him.”
Stanton entered Game 3 1-for-8 at the plate in the series, having managed to lift just one ball to the outfield in the first two games — his other outs coming from groundballs and strikeouts. While he was hitting missiles, they remained on the ground, an unfavorable outcome given his lack of speed. Yankees manager Aaron Boone remained optimistic, believing Stanton’s timing was just a tick off. He was right.
All season long, the spotlight on the Yankees’ offensive success has largely focused on Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, often likened to the modern-day counterparts of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Judge hit 58 home runs; Soto, a career-best 41. Stanton was largely the forgotten man. Stanton finished with a career-worst 86 wRC+ last year but bounced back with a 116 wRC+ this season. He was the Yankees’ third-best hitter this season, but sometimes he can be frustrating in ways many other hitters aren’t. He’ll swing at pitches well off the plate and in the dirt. He won’t lift the ball as often as he should given his strength. He’ll strike out over 30 percent of his plate appearances.
“I don’t think he gives a s—,” Boone told The Athletic. “He’s just a killer and mentally tough and doesn’t give a s— of a result. It doesn’t affect him. If he goes up there and swings and looks terrible and everyone is yelling at him, he’s so mentally locked in. I do think this brings out the best in him because he knows what’s on the line.”
This being October.
The most surprising moment of Stanton’s postseason career came in the sixth inning. After hitting a single, Stanton stole second base. It was his first stolen base in four years, stunning everyone in the Yankees’ dugout. First baseman Oswaldo Cabrera said Stanton stealing a base sent a message to the entire team: He will do whatever is necessary to win.
Winning it all could cement Stanton’s legacy in pinstripes for eternity. Among all Yankees with at least 30 postseason games in franchise history, Stanton’s .964 OPS ranks fourth all-time. You know the other three by one name: Ruth, Gehrig, Reggie. What’s missing from Stanton’s resume is a title. That’s what matters most in The Bronx.
“There’s no benefit to not being successful here, no matter the case,” Stanton said. “It’s always my job to put the work in, and there’s ups and downs, but we’re here now.”
(Photo: Ed Zurga / Getty Images)
