Yankees Giancarlo Stanton is about to break out in a big, big way

The Yankees thought they were getting the deal of the century when they acquired NL MVP and MLB home run king Giancarlo Stanton, but the early returns have been disappointing. Now, however, he is about to start hitting and homering, and turning boos into wild applause.

The New York Yankees should have the most feared middle of the order in the game. Instead, two of the team’s biggest hitters–C Gary Sanchez and DH Giancarlo Stanton–had been stuck below .200. While it is way too early in the season to be worried about either, these are still sad starts.

But that all changed last night.

Giancarlo Stanton went 1-3 and raised his average to slightly over .200 (.203) while contributing, but little to the Yankees win. Those facts by themselves would mean nothing. Far more important, however, are all the things that did not show up in the box score.

Working backwards in significance was how Giancarlo Stanton got that single: With hustle and resolve. Here’s a big-timee MLB star living his dream of playing on the biggest stage for the biggest prize, and he’s choking on the pinstripes. As is Neil Walker, but that’s another story.

It would be both easy and inexcusable for him to get discouraged at a weak grounder. He is, after all, paid to slug and might be waiting for his next big home run.

But in the bottom of the fifth with two outs and two on, he hit a soft one to second that he only beat out because he was hustling down that line. Big home runs are great, and the Yankees would have taken one right there. Short of that, however, is showing heart and will to your teammates, and the fans.

The respect reflected back on him can only help his confidence.