JUPITER, Fla. -- It was the shot heard around the World Baseball Classic, and the thunderous impact resonated back to Marlins camp.
Giancarlo Stanton's two-run home run on Saturday night in Team USA's 6-3 win over the Dominican Republic had an exit velocity of 117.3 mph, the fourth-hardest-hit home run ever tracked by Statcast™.
Stanton's ability to mash baseballs is nothing new. The Marlins right fielder has three of the top four exit velocities on home runs recorded by Statcast™. He holds the highest two readings, 119.2 mph, and 118.5 mph.
Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies holds the third spot at 117.4 mph.
Stanton's home run created a buzz at Marlins camp.
"Everybody knows he hits the ball a long way," manager Don Mattingly said. "You'd like him to be consistent. He's a guy that can give us good at-bats. Not going a month's stretch, where it's a struggle. He's capable of that. So it's just a matter of him being consistent and helping us on a daily basis, instead of one long homer. I'm not saying that in a negative way. It's just that's what we're looking for, and I know that's what he's looking for."
More than just pure power, the organization would like to see more consistency with their most feared hitter.
Stanton had two hits on Saturday, including a single to right field.
"Big G can hit homers to right, too," Mattingly said. "I'm OK with those. I think he can use the whole field. We always talk about it. Guys who can leave the ballpark in center field and the opposite way, it's really an advantage. Now they can take that same approach, and hit it out of right-center, left-center or dead center."