Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton is MVP at ‘home’

The outfielder for the New York Yankees, Giancarlo Stanton, lived a very emotional moment when he was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the 2022 All-Star Game in Los Angeles. And it is that, Stanton, was born and raised in this city about 27 kilometers from Dodger Stadium. Visiting the Chavez Ravine building was a regular occurrence for Giancarlo, who was a Dodgers fan as a child.

“I can’t explain how special this is, it’s hard to put into words that this is reality. Very special,” said Stanton, who was joined by family and friends throughout the festivities.

Stanton’s two-run homer in the All-Star Game tied things up for the American League in the fourth inning and, in the end, Stanton’s home run. Byron Buxton on the same roll he gave them the victory in the ‘Summer Classic’, 3-2.

Stanton became just the third Yankees player to be MVP of the All-Star Game along with Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera. The moment was even more significant for Giancarlo, since it was the park where he used to come as a child with his father.

“It is very special personally, (this moment) is very high on my list of personal achievements. I have many goals to win the championship and others, but when I see my path and trajectory to get to where I am, this moment is special for being here, at home”, added the 32-year-old baseball player.

His teammate, Aaron Judgeshared that Stanton told him on the plane to Los Angeles that he was going to hit a home run.

“He told me he was going to hit a home run. He didn’t get it in the first at-bat, but for a fact he made up for it in the second,” said a smiling Aaron Judge, who has 70 RBIs with the New Yorkers in the first half of the season.

In his career, Stanton has been selected to five All-Stars and was voted NL MVP in 2017.

The baseball world has been savoring for a long time that there could be a World Series rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Yankees again. Both historic franchises have met in eleven World Series, however, the last championship match between the two was in 1981.

Currently, the Yankees (64-28) dominate the majors in the American League and the Dodgers (60-30) the National. So the desire for that hypothetical ending to take place increases. Stanton is the first who has dreamed it.

“What if I’ve ever thought about that final?… Absolutely! On paper it has been expected for some years now. Now both sides have to take care of things and be able to make it happen, ”Stanton concluded at a press conference.

Maybe in October, the Los Angeles native can return to his hometown looking to hit twice.