Fansided

MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 16: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees reacts after he is hit by a pitch in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 16, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 16: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees reacts after he is hit by a pitch in the fourth inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 16, 2018 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

9. Giancarlo Stanton

Despite the historically-bad start to the year, Giancarlo Stanton must still be considered a top-10 MLB player. Last season’s MVP numbers are more than epic enough to overlook the strikeouts piling up so far in the first month of 2018. Stanton has always been prone to slumps, and what he is going through right now is no different than any other in his career.

Stanton finally put together an entire healthy season in 2017, and all he did was hit 59 home runs and win league MVP. He hit .287/.393/.702 after the All-Star break with 33 home runs in only 272 at-bats. In the month of August alone, Stanton hit 18 home runs with a slugging percentage just shy of .900. He is a threat to go deep on every single pitch when locked in.

So far, the New York Yankees have not seen the best version of Stanton, but he is trending in the right direction. He did have two five-strikeout games and was been booed repeatedly at Yankee Stadium, but Stanton is hitting .325/.364/.625 over his past 10 games with three home runs and seven RBI. He does have 15 strikeouts, but the hard contact has been there more frequently. It may be that the short porch of his new home stadium is playing tricks with the 28-year-old’s head. In 16 games at home, Stanton has hit just .182/.257/.333 with 29 strikeouts in 66 at-bats.

For now, Yankees fans and Stanton need to pump the brakes, take a deep breath and relax. His numbers will even themselves over the course of the season, and this dismal start will be but a memory when he’s looking at 40-plus home runs at the end of October.

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