New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton didn't wait long to deliver what will go down as one of the most memorable home runs of a pandemic-shortened season.
In the first inning of Thursday's Opening Day showdown between the Yankees and Washington Nationals, Washington starter Max Scherzer hung a 1-1 pitch over the plate. Stanton made Scherzer pay:
The 1st homer of 2020 belongs to @Giancarlo818. pic.twitter.com/Q1cZCu7m0E
— MLB (@MLB) July 23, 2020
As noted by The Athletic's Lindsey Adler, Stanton's bomb, a two-run shot, flew 459 feet:
Giancarlo Stanton’s home run went 459 feet at an exit velocity of 112.2, per Statcast.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) July 23, 2020
While nobody was in the bleachers to retrieve the first home-run souvenir of the 60-game campaign, MLB hopes at least some clubs will be allowed to welcome fans on a "case-by-case" basis later this summer.
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