TAMPA, Fla. — All you ever hear from Yankees fans about Giancarlo Stanton is criticism.
He’s always hurt.
He’s can’t run.
He makes too much money.
He’s done.
The Big G bashing was on again in the first couple weeks of March when he followed his worst season with a slow start in spring training games.
And then Stanton got hot and then hotter and then …
The games still don’t count, but Stanton is showing that he’s still capable of being every bit the offensive wrecking ball that Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are.
In his latest statement, Stanton had a Grapefruit League game for the ages Wednesday night going 3-for-3 with three homers, a sacrifice fly and eight RBI in the Yankees’ 12-0 blitzing of the Pirates.
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Does Stanton have a little chip on his shoulder?
“A lot of a bit of one,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Facing Pirates lefty Marco Gonzales in his first three at-bats, Stanton hit three bombs that traveled 1,334 feet.
“Giancarlo just seems like he’s not from this planet,” Gonzales said. “I’ve got to make up a pitch to throw to him next time.”
In his last time up, Stanton had a shot at a fourth homer and second grand slam. With Pirates righty Quinn Priester on in relief, Stanton drove an inside 2-1 sinker to deep center, but he got under it a little too much and settled for a 357-foot sacrifice fly that was caught a few feet from the wall.
In the first inning, Stanton blasted a 1-0 changeup to center that bounced off the top of the batter’s eye and over for a 455-foot, two-run homer.
He was just getting started.
In the second, Stanton hit with the bases loaded and worked the count full. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, he crushed a ball to left-center field that cleared the scoreboard for a grand slam. This one was measured 453 feet, two shy of his first homer.
His next time up, Stanton made it a hat trick golfing a low 0-2 changeup out to left for a 426-foot solo blast for his first ever three-homer game. In the regular season, he has 36 two-homer games and 330 one-homer games for a total of 402, which ranks first among active players and 58th all-time.
Stanton is 10-for-20 with four homers and 10 RBI in his last six Grapefruit League games, raising his average to .314.
In his first six, he had one hit in 15 at-bats.
“I feel he’s looked pretty good all spring,” Boone said. “I feel like he’s been in control of his at-bats. Tonight obviously he was really precise, and when he’s like that he’s pretty scary.”
This March surge is by far the best Stanton has been since the middle of June to the middle of July in 2022 when he hit 10 homers in a 19-game stretch.
“It’s impressive to see (Stanton) back doing what he does,” said Aaron Judge, who was back in the Yankees’ lineup for the first time in 10 days “I think we’re all excited to see what he does this year. He’s a big part of this team. When he’s rolling, we’re usually rolling as well.”
Last year, Stanton was hurt two weeks into the season, missed 43 games with a hamstring strain and put up very disappointing numbers when he was healthy. In 101 games, he batted a career-low .191 with 24 homers and 60 RBI.
Upset with himself, Stanton got himself into better shape over the winter and it’s paying off this spring. He’s stayed healthy and for the last week and a half he’s looking like he might have a big rebound season.
“I think he went into this offseason pissed off,” Boone said. “He wanted to make alterations. He’s always a driven, focused guy, but let’s say there’s an added edge to him.”
Stanton feels better, too. That’s helping a lot.
“The way I feel moving around and everything is I planned for in the offseason,” Stanton said. “It’s a good start. Now we’ve got months to keep it together.”
NOTABLE
-- Sidelined since March 11 with abdominal soreness, Judge started in center and was 1-for-1 with a first-inning double, second-inning walk and a nice running catch near the wall in the fourth before his pre-planned early exit. Trent Grisham hit for Judge in the bottom of the fourth.
-- Veteran righty Luke Weaver started for the Yankees and worked 3 1/3 shutout innings while allowing two hits, striking out two and walking one. He’ll likely open the season as a long reliever if he doesn’t beat out the co-favorites for injured ace Gerrit Cole’s rotation spot, Luis Gil and Will Warren.
-- Gleyber Torres hit leadoff and was 2-for-3, raising his average to .351.
-- DJ LeMahieu still has a lot of swelling in his badly bruised right foot, but hopes to be ready for next Thursday’s season opener in Houston. The two-time batting champ fouled a pitch off his foot in last Saturday’s game.
LOOKING AHEAD
Thursday: Yankees at Braves in North Port, Fla., 1:05 p.m. LHP Nestor Cortes vs. RHP Charlie Morton.
Friday: Mets at Yankees in Tampa, 1:05 p.m., YES. TBA vs. RHP Will Warren.
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Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com.