Giancarlo Stanton emerged as one of the New York Yankees’ biggest weaknesses of the 2023 MLB season. He went from being the team’s most powerful hitter to being the batter with the lowest batting average. Additionally, persistent injuries didn’t help either, as it disallowed him to play outfield, which is the slugger’s preferred space.
Having said that, Giancarlo Stanton, who is stuck with the Yankees for the next four years, has promised a bounce back in 2024. He acknowledged the need for adjustments in his batting stance. However, apart from stance, the slugger needs to address another key area that is affecting his ability to hit home runs on a consistent basis.
Giancarlo Stanton Must Improve Bat Speed In 2024!
Giancarlo Stanton’s biggest strength remains his power. The beast has the ability to hit towering homers consistently without breaking a sweat. However, in recent years, his home run count witnessed a significant dip. Moreover, statistics suggest that perhaps the age factor has now started to take a toll on the Yankee hitter. According to Baseball America, Stanton’s bat speed dropped from 81.3 mph on average in 2021 to 77.2 mph in 2023. That dip, in turn, affects the exit velocity of hits, which is the root cause of the slugger not being able to hit towering homers as before. Stanton’s bat speed has remained the best in MLB for years. However, the recent dip should sound off alarms in the Yankees front office.
A possible solution for Giancarlo Stanton would be to hit the Driveline baseball facility in Washington. They have an intense bat speed training program, which previously helped Mookie Betts of the Dodgers become an NL MVP candidate. Additionally, turning to the Yankees coaching staff is always an option. But for that, the sluggers need to be fully aware of their shortcomings and limitations. Overall, a few adjustments and improvements will help Stanton regain his old self. He still has the ability to hit the ball hard. Just needs to brush up on the mechanics. Also, staying healthy should be the slugger’s top most priority. It holds the key to everything. No improvements can turn things around for the Yankee sluggers unless he ensures that he stays on the field for the entirety of the 162-game stretch. A crucial season coming up for former MVP Giancarlo Stanton.
Former MLB Player Cautious Yankees Against Trading Giancarlo Stanton!
Giancarlo Stanton could be discussed as a trade possibility during Yankees off-season meetings. However, his contract value remains the key roadblock. Stanton owes $98 million for the next four years. Also, the slugger has a no-trade clause that disallows Yanks to ship him without his consent.
Meanwhile, Erik Kratz believes that it’s not the right time to trade away Giancarlo Stanton for the Yankees. He claimed that if the Bombers decided to make the slugger available, as many as 25 teams would queue up to acquire him. Despite his dip in form, the former MVP remains one of the most dreaded hitters in the league. The talent and skill is still there. All he needs is some confidence and good health to start hitting towering homers again.