It is going to be weird to be sure for Giancarlo Stanton when he returns to Miami.
But it also could be flat-out cool.
Stanton, who hopes to be back playing the outfield during the Yankees’ two-game set with the Marlins after 12 straight games as a designated hitter, will make his initial trip to the place his Major League Baseball life took off. For eight years he played for the Marlins, and ranks as their all-time home run leader with 267. His first series back will be Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It’s going to be weird for sure,” said Stanton, who won the National League MVP with Miami last season.
As a Yankee, Stanton has clubbed 32 homers. Do the math. He now has 299. To get No. 300 where he essentially grew up?
“Yeah, it would be cool. That would be really cool if I did that,” Stanton said after the Yankees drubbed the Blue Jays 10-2 Sunday at Yankee Stadium.
Stanton is hitting .285 after his 1-of-3 effort, which included a sixth-inning RBI single (and two walks) as he served as the DH again as he recovers from a tight left hamstring. He hopes that role changes.
“If the first game goes according to plan then yeah, obviously play both [in the outfield],” Stanton said.
And that is what manager Aaron Boone is hopefully anticipating.
“I’m optimistic that he’s going to play at some point in Miami whether it’s both games, whether it’s one game,” Boone said.
As for the going-back-to-where-it-started storyline for Stanton, Boone is confident the slugger will prevail.
“I think he’s looking forward to going back there. It’s always weird … going back to a city that in this case he grew up in in a lot of ways. Came up through their system, became a big leaguer there for him, became the face of the franchise,” Boone said. “What I’ve seen from him over the last four or five months, I’m sure he’ll handle it pretty well.”
Even if it’s a little weird.
“Walking in and going to the visitors’ side, but I’m looking forward to it,” Stanton said. “It’s a big part of my life, my time down there. It’ll be a cool experience.”
