One of the most prolific power hitters in Major League Baseball, Giancarlo Stanton is a rare spectacle in a game where skill sets such as finesse at the plate and defense are much more coveted attributes. While Stanton may not be a flashy defender (-0.5 defensive WAR) or a patient hitter (strikeout rate of 23.8%), his production at the plate is usually not inhibited because of these shortcomings. With the Home Derby right around the corner, Stanton will look to defend his title from last year while continuing to dazzle fans with his insane abilities as a power hitter. Given Stanton’s immense success as a professional athlete, the intriguing inquiry remains of how much is the gargantuan slugger actually worth?
Net Worth as of 2017: $20 Million
How did the sensational slugger get there? And how have his contributions at the plate garnered him this type of wealth? Let’s find out.
2010-2014
JUPITER, FL – MARCH 02: Outfielder Mike Stanton #80 of the Florida Marlins poses during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium on March 2, 2010 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
Two months into the 2010 regular season, the Florida Marlins (now the Miami Marlins) decided it was time to call up their coveted prospect from the minor leagues. At 20 years of age, Stanton proved to be an exciting slugger that made the most of his opportunities at the plate. Among the many accolades Stanton garnered during his rookie season, the most impressive was becoming one of just four players in the last 25 years to hit a grand slam before his 21st birthday. Throughout the rest of the year, Stanton never relented in terms of his power at the plate (.509 slugging percentage and 22 home runs) as his average home run hitting distance was 399.6 feet.
Despite having to battle through leg and eye injuries during the course of the 2011 regular season, Stanton still managed to out due himself statistically from the previous season. Aside from setting new career highs in home runs (34) and RBI’s (87), his average home run distance improved immensely as he averaged 416.6 feet per long ball with the ball traveling off the bat at 107.4 MPH. By the end of the season, Stanton had hit 56 career home runs before his 22nd birthday, which matched Alex Rodriguez and was only behind Ken Griffey, Jr. among players over the last 40 years.
Healthy and ready to compete at a high level, Stanton made 2012 a year to remember. While Stanton elevated his slugging percentage to an unthinkable level (.608, a career high), his abilities as a all-round hitter improved dramatically (.290 batting average compared to .262 from the previous season). Although Stanton was selected to participate in the 2012 All-Star Game and the Home Run Derby, he had to miss both events due to knee surgery. However, just over a month later, Stanton slammed a 494-foot home run at Coors Field, the longest in the majors since 2009.
While 2013 was not a terrible year for Stanton, it was a bit underwhelming compared to what he did last year statistically speaking. A hamstring injury forced Stanton to miss significant time on the field and even when he was present his abilities at the plate were noticeably diminished. Stanton set career lows in batting average (.249) and slugging percentage (.480) while hitting just 24 home runs. However, Stanton was able to set a impressive milestone when he hit his 100th home run on June 17th to become the 9th fastest player to reach 100 career home runs.
Despite a disappointing year in 2013, Stanton remained tenacious and came into the 2014 season with rejuvenated confidence. Although Stanton was hit in the face by a pitch during the last month of the season and did not come back for the remainder of the year, his overall numbers were back to being supremely impressive. He hit a career high in home runs (37) on the year while setting new career marks in RBI’s (105) and on base percentage (.395). He finished second in the MVP voting to Clayton Kershaw and was ultimately rewarded with a 13-year, $325 million dollar extension, the most lucrative contract in sports history.
He reportedly earned $6.5 million in 2014.
2015-Present
NEW YORK, NY – JULY 06: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins hits a home run against the New York Mets in the sixth inning during a game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on July 6, 2016 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
While Stanton had one of his strongest first-half performances of his career in 2015 (27 home runs in just 74 games along with a slugging percentage of .606), he broke the hamate bone in his left on June 26th and was forced to miss the rest of the season. Still, Staton earned his third All-Star selection and was one of the must see players on any team when he stepped up to the plate.
2016 was a down year for Stanton in terms of batting average (career low .240) and slugging percentage (.489, which is low by his standards). Nevertheless, Stanton was selected to participate in the 2016 Home Run Derby where he won the title and hit 61 total home runs (set a record for most home runs hit in a single derby).
Thus far in 2017, Stanton looks to be back on track in terms of being more efficient at the plate (.277 batting average) while continuing to do what he does best: hitting home runs that go incredible distances (26 home runs in 86 games to go along with a slugging percentage of .572). Along with being selected to participate in his fourth All-Star game, Stanton will defend his Home Run Derby title this year in what should be one of the more exciting displays of sheer power this year.
Although Staton may not be the most coveted player in terms of defensive and finesse hitting metrics, his unwavering power and bat speed is a sight to behold. While home runs are being hit at an incredible rate this year, this is due largely in part to pitchers throwing harder, which results in subsequent hits going farther with less power from the batters. What Stanton does is simply a lost art that only rookie Aaron Judge can replicate on a regular basis. With the lights shinning especially bright during this years Home Run Derby, it will be intriguing to see if the wunderkind or the veteran slugger will be crowned the home run king during the All-Star break.
He reportedly earned $14.5 million in 2017.
