Giancarlo Stanton Bio
Giancarlo Cruz-Michael Stanton (born November 8, 1989), formerly known as Mike Stanton, is an American professional baseball designated hitter and outfielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Florida/Miami Marlins. Stanton stands 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 m) tall and weighs 245 pounds (111 kg). He bats and throws right handed. Stanton is the Marlins’ all-time home run leader and the only active player with over 450 home runs. Internationally, Stanton represented the United States.
Early Life and Background
Giancarlo Cruz-Michael Stanton was born in Panorama City, California. Stanton’s father is of Irish descent and his mother is African-American with some small Puerto Rican descent. Stanton’s parents, Mike Stanton and Jacinta Gary, have been divorced since he was eight years old. He has a brother, Egidio “E.G.” Moacir Gary, and a sister, Kyrice Valivia Stanton. Raised in the Tujunga area of Los Angeles, he grew up a Los Angeles Dodgers fan. His mother named him after the actors Giancarlo Giannini and Giancarlo Esposito. Stanton attended Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga for two years before transferring to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, where he was a three-sport athlete. In addition to baseball and basketball, Stanton played wide receiver and cornerback for the football team. He had accepted a scholarship to play baseball for Tulane and received offers from UCLA, UNLV, and USC to play football.
Path to Baseball
The Florida Marlins selected Stanton in the second round, with the 76th overall selection, in the 2007 MLB draft. Rather than enroll in college, Stanton signed with the Marlins, receiving a $475,000 signing bonus. He began his professional career for the Gulf Coast League Marlins of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League but quickly advanced to the Jamestown Jammers of the Low-A New York–Penn League. After playing nine games for the Jammers, he was promoted to the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Single-A South Atlantic League. With Greensboro, Stanton hit 39 home runs, on a .293 batting average with 97 RBIs and a .993 OPS. Stanton received an invitation to the 2009 Marlins’ spring training and won numerous post-season awards for his performance in the 2008 minor league season.
Giancarlo Stanton Career
Early Career (2010–2017)
Stanton made his MLB debut on June 8, 2010, becoming the third youngest player in Marlins history. He went 3-for-5 with two infield singles and scored twice in his debut. Stanton’s first MLB home run was a grand slam off of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza. He became the fourth player in the past 25 years to hit his first career grand slam before his 21st birthday. In 2011, Stanton battled through leg and eye injuries but still managed to hit 34 home runs and 87 RBIs in 516 at-bats. He finished the 2012 season with career highs in home runs (37), batting average (.290), on-base percentage (.361), and slugging percentage (.608), leading all of MLB. In November 2014, the Marlins signed Stanton to a 13-year, $325 million contract, then the most lucrative contract in sports history.
Breakthrough (2017)
In 2017, Stanton led MLB in home runs (59), runs batted in (RBIs) (132), and slugging percentage (.631), winning the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. He was traded to the New York Yankees following the 2017 season. A five-time MLB All-Star, Stanton has twice won both the NL Hank Aaron Award and outfield Silver Slugger Award after leading the league in home runs.
Notable Works and Milestones
Stanton’s signature work includes his historic 2017 season, where he set multiple records and became the first player in the National League since Prince Fielder in 2007 to hit 50 or more home runs in a season. He has also been recognized for his performance in the postseason, winning the ALCS MVP Award in 2024.
Giancarlo Stanton Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Giancarlo Stanton has received multiple nominations for prestigious awards, including the National League Most Valuable Player Award, which he won in 2017.
Giancarlo Stanton Awards Won
Giancarlo Stanton has won several awards during his career, including the National League MVP Award in 2017, five All-Star selections, and multiple Silver Slugger Awards.
Giancarlo Stanton Family
Giancarlo Stanton’s parents are Mike Stanton and Jacinta Gary. He has a brother, Egidio “E.G.” Moacir Gary, and a sister, Kyrice Valivia Stanton.
Personal Life
Stanton’s mother calls him “Cruz” (his other middle name), while his father and other relatives call him “Mike” or “Mikey.” He was known as Mike Stanton throughout his high school and minor league careers. After a trip to Europe in the 2011–12 offseason, he made it known that he preferred to be called Giancarlo. When asked about being one of New York’s most eligible bachelors, he expressed that it allows him to focus on being the best baseball player he can be.
