Todd Hollandsworth's favorite player: Giancarlo Stanton

CHICAGO -- Todd Hollandsworth said he'll never forget the home run Giancarlo Stanton hit last June.

Stanton lined a two-run homer to the opposite field off the Cubs' Jason Hammel in the first inning on June 16, a laser that just cleared the right-field wall at the Marlins' home park. It was one of 37 home runs the Marlins slugger hit last season.

Asked to pick a favorite Major League player now playing, Hollandsworth selected Stanton.

"[I picked Stanton because of] the combination of power and watching him develop as a young player, and in a lot of ways, for me, kind of transforming the Marlins organization and putting them back on the map," Hollandsworth said. "It's really cool for me to see individuals accomplish things like that.

"Teams win, but he's had a really big footprint on that organization," Hollandsworth said.

That could be why the Marlins gave Stanton a 13-year, $325 million contract in November.

"His power is undeniable," Hollandsworth said. "I think about a home run he lined down the right-field line [off Hammel]; it was about 10 feet off the ground. In all my days, I've only seen a few guys pull that off. He's got stardom all over him."

Hollandsworth, 41, knows something about the Marlins, having played for the team in 2003.