Giancarlo Stanton Pumped To Represent Marlins During Home Run Derby
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SAN DIEGO (CBSMiami) – The Miami Marlins enter this week's All-Star break riding high.
They have won six of their past nine games to move six games over .500 and into a tie for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.
Most of the team will get a nice break this week and enjoy a few days off from the rigorous schedule that MLB players have to go through every summer.
Not every Marlins player will get that down time however as five players are heading to San Diego to be a part of the All-Star Game.
Jose Fernandez, Marcell Ozuna, A.J. Ramos and Fernando Rodney will represent the National League during Tuesday's midsummer classic, but Giancarlo Stanton will get things started on Monday night as he is set to participate in the Home Run Derby.
Santon was selected on Thursday to take part in the event, and the timing was quite interesting.
In less than 24 hours between Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon Stanton hit four mammoth home runs at Citi Field in New York. He also said between the games that he would be happy to participate in the Home Run Derby if selected.
After going through an epic slump that lasted for the better part of two months, Stanton has finally seemed to find his swing again.
During the 21 games leading up to the All-Star break, Stanton is hitting .329 with 8 home runs, 21 RBIs and 18 runs.
That has raised his average, which bottomed out at .192 in mid-June, up to .233 to go along with 20 homers and 50 RBIs on the season.
It's certainly been a welcomed sign for the Marlins, who were able to remain in the playoff race despite their slugger going through perhaps the worst hitting drought in his career.
On Monday Stanton will get to flex his muscles and show the league why he is one of the top young hitters in the game during his second appearance in the Home Run Derby.
He put on a show during the 2014 derby in Minnesota, reaching the finals and consistently landing balls in the upper decks of Target Field.
Stanton was expected to participate in the 2012 and 2015 derby's but had to sit out due to injury.
Eight players have been selected to participate in the dinger derby, with Stanton being ranked No. 5.
Stanton will begin his quest to be the league's Home Run Derby champion against No. 4 Robinson Cano in the first round.
The winner of the Stanton-Cano matchup will face whoever wins between top seed Mark Trumbo and No. 8 Corey Seager.
The other side of the bracket will have No. 3 Adam Duvall face No. 6 Wil Myers and No 2 Todd Frazier go up against No. 7 Carlos Gonzalez in the first round.
The winners of each first round matchup will face off in the semifinals, and then the final two sluggers remaining will fight for the championship in the finals.
For a complete list of the Home Run Derby rules, click here.
Stanton is bringing his regular batting practice pitcher, Marlins video coordinator Pat Shine, to the derby to serve up what he hopes are plenty of future souvenirs.
The Home Run Derby will begin Monday at 8 p.m.