Fellow MLB All-Stars feel Stanton's absence at Midsummer Classic
CINCINNATI -- When Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton underwent surgery for a left hamate fracture two weeks ago, it didn't just affect his ballclub but all of Major League Baseball.
Stanton, who would've been a likely participant in Tuesday's Home Run Derby, didn't attend the Midsummer Classic as he recovers from the injury that halted a season headed toward career bests. Even after missing two weeks, Stanton still leads the majors with 27 home runs. At the time of the fracture, his 67 RBI were tops in the big leagues. He was on pace for nearly 60 dingers.
The three-time All-Star became a household name among the casual fan during last year's Home Run Derby in Minneapolis with his tape measure shots that nearly left Target Field, including this 510-footer.
Below, fellow All-Stars give their take on Stanton:
MIKE TROUT, OF, Los Angeles Angels
We definitely watch Stanton every time we turn on ESPN or MLB Network. He's either hitting a home run or making a diving play. He's fun to watch for sure. Him and Dee (Gordon). As another outfielder, you just respect the way he plays the game. He plays hard. Him going down is a tough feeling for me, too. I like watching him play.
JOSH DONALDSON, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
What do you want me to say about him? How great he is? How huge this guy is? He's awesome. The guy hits balls into Neptune. It's kind of upsetting to hear he got hurt again with his hamate bone. The guy's a thrill to watch take batting practice. The Home Run Derby kind of just suits him. He's one of those guys who's a special talent. It's kind of been unfortunate the last couple of years with a couple injuries there. It's tough to see.
NOLAN ARENADO, 3B, Colorado Rockies
It's funny 'cause the third-base coach (Lenny) Harris ... I'm on the grass and he's playing behind the grass with me. It's pretty funny. It's a good time. It's one of the scarier times. Whenever it's infield in, I don't play infield in. I always play halfway back. I'm not going to do that. It's probably one of the scarier things. I always tell people, 'Dude, I don't want to do this.' I look at (shortstop Troy Tulowitzki) and say, 'This is awful.' I'm just happy the times we've played Stanton this year it hasn't been infield in, so I've been thankful. Years past they have and it's been one of the scarier things I've been through.
JACOB deGROM, RHP, New York Mets
It's impressive what he does. We actually have some guys on the team that'll stay out and watch his batting practice. It's funny because we were actually talking about it one day and we were saying how fun it would be to watch him hit these home runs. We never want to see them because it's off our guys, but when you turn on SportsCenter next thing is how far he hit another one. It's very impressive what he does with a bat.
RYAN BRAUN, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
He's one of my favorite players to watch, one of the few guys in baseball where I will stop whatever I'm doing to watch him when he's in the batter's box. Incredible athlete. Looks like the Under Armour mannequin, just a little bigger, a little stronger. Just an incredible athlete, without a doubt one of the best players in the game and so much fun to watch.
