Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton sets franchise home run record with 43rd
The Miami Marlins have a new franchise record holder after Giancarlo Stanton hit his 43rd home run of the season. He passes Gary Sheffield’s total of 42 in 1996.
The Miami Marlins outfielder hit a two-run home run off Ty Blach of the San Francisco Giants in the first inning Monday night. The Marlins and Giancarlo Stanton celebrated an 8-3 win as well as Stanton’s passing of Gary Sheffield‘s record that stood for 21 years.
Stanton now has 43 home runs and the Miami Marlins have 45 games remaining, while Sheffield had a total of 42 in 1996. Stanton has been on a historic home run pace, especially since the All-Star break, and has hit a home run in five straight games, which is also another team record. The only other MLB player to homer in five consecutive games this year is Eric Thames of the Milwaukee Brewers (April 13-17).
Many expected Sheffield’s record to be broken by the big-time slugger, but even Stanton didn’t expect to do so at this pace.
"“It’s been an amazing little run, that’s for sure,” manager Don Mattingly said to reporters. “You always like to be around when guys are doing special things, and seeing things like that. This game always seems to have something. Somebody is breaking a record or doing something no one else has done, even when it’s within an organization. You always like being around and seeing guys who are having that kind of success.”"
Over the past 34 games, Stanton has homered for the Marlins 22 times. He’s hit a bomb in 10 of his last 11 games. Today is August 15, and Stanton has 10 home runs so far this month.
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To see Stanton break the Miami Marlins franchise record, his father Mike flew in from California to be there firsthand. Stanton’s teammates put him into a laundry basket after the game and wheeled him around the clubhouse to celebrate.
“We did a nice little toast and then they threw everything on me that’s in this clubhouse in the shower,” Stanton said. “I did fit in the basket. I was surprised.”
Stanton has hit a lot of incredibly impressive home runs but Monday’s was probably one of his most “normal” ones. Statcast projected it at a distance of 382 feet with an exit velocity of 95.1 mph. According to Statcast records dating back to 2015, his 43rd home run this season was the softest that he has hit. His previous “weakest” homer was last year, August 7 at Coors Field with a 96.1 mph exit velocity.
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Right now the Miami Marlins are out of the playoff race but they are all enjoying moments like these. The players are feeding off the energy Stanton is putting out while the team faces a number of questions. The franchise is transitioning to new ownership, and uncertainty will continue to surround Stanton and other players’ long-term futures with the club.