Stanton Answers Boos With Monster Home Run

Reigning National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton began his American League and Yankee career in a big way back on March 29. On the road in Toronto on Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, the new Yankees DH went 3-for-5 at the plate, with a double, two home runs, and four RBI.

In the remaining three games of the opening four-game series against the Blue Jays, Stanton managed just one hit in nine at-bats. That one hit, a double.

Opening Day at Yankee Stadium is something players tend to remember. Stepping foot in the stadium, wearing pinstripes for the first time, there are likely not many experiences like it. Surely Stanton was looking forward to the day. Well, it had to wait. Monday’s home opener at Yankee Stadium was rained out.

He got the chance Tuesday, starting in left field against the Tampa Bay Rays. However, it turned out to be a day he’d like to forget.

Stanton not only went hitless in five at-bats in his Yankee Stadium debut, he struck out all five times. The home crowd let him have it, showering him with boos after his fifth strikeout.

Rather than sulking and letting the crowd’s disappointment get to him, Stanton took it in stride following the game.

“A performance like that should be booed,” he said.

The big right-handed slugger returned to the lineup Wednesday and answered in a big way. Stanton crushed a two-run shot deep into the left-field seats. Statcast estimated the ball traveled 458 feet at an exit velocity of 117.5 mph (the hardest ball hit in MLB so far this season).

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It’s a sight Yankee fans can get used to seeing as this is the first of many home runs Stanton will hit at the stadium. Tuesday was just a bad day at the office for the slugger.