How the electrifying Giancarlo Stanton overcame a gruesome injury to become an MVP and the reigning king.

By Austin Murphy Photographs by Peter Yang

Men’s Health Page 91 April 2018

bombStantons averages a homer every 13.4 at bats, the highest rate in the majors and fourth best in the history of the game, behind Mark McGwire, , away! and . Kettlebell Swing

Romanian Deadlift

Zercher Squat

Giancarlo Stanton was Box Jump down in the workout 1/ count: one ball, ACHIEVE LIFKettlebellTOFF Swing Add these supersets to your workouts to improve core strength and Offsetrotational Cable power. Pull two strikes. Aim to do 4 sets of each. —Michael Easter Kettlebell Swing He was just Romanian Deadlift + Kettlebell Swing

Romanian Deadlift trying to make Kettlebell Swing solid contact, Kettlebell Swing Hamstrings HRomanianOW TO DO ITDeadlift Stand with a loadedKettlebell barbell. Swing Keep your knees slightly bent as you hinge at the hips; take he later explained, which is why his home run off Pirates 5 seconds to lower your torso until it’s almost parallel pitcher Tyler Glasnow last June traveled a mere 449 feet, to the floor. Keeping your back straight, raise your torso.Romanian That’s 1Deadlift rep; do 5. Then do 10 kettlebell swings. considerably shorter than many moonshots Stanton has launched in his pro career, dating back to his time in the Zercher Squat minors. (We’re thinking, in particular, of the 500-plus- ZercRomanianher Squat Deadlift + Box Jump foot meteorite he sent screaming over the scoreboard of the Double-A in 2010.) Stanton’s clout off Glasnow, though modest by his own standards, came within inches of exiting Pittsburgh’s PNC Park and finding the Allegheny River. “Do you ever take that for Romanian Deadlift ZercherZercher Squat Squat Hamstrings granted,” a reporter asked Stanton after the game, “that you can hit a ball that far?”

“No, never take it for granted,” replied Stanton, then HOWZercher TO D OSquat IT Hold a loaded barbell in the crooks in his eighth season with the . If you do of your arms, keeping it close to yourBox chest. Jump Push your hips back and bend your knees to squat. Hold that, he added, “this game will hit you right in the mouth.” the “down” position for 5 seconds; then explosively He wasn’t speaking figuratively. 267 stand. That’s 1 rep; do 5. Then do 5 box jumps. Career home runs Stanton was leading the in home in eight seasons. runs (37) on September 11, 2014, when he stepped in Despite playing in the NL his entire career, OffsetBox Cable Jump Pull + Plank RowCat Camels against the ’ . It would be Stanton has hit a homer his last at bat of the season. With the count 0-1, Fiers deliv- in every AL East stadium except Baltimore’s. He Zercher Squat ered an 88 mph fastball that got away from him. The ball Box Jump has one in New York, Box Jump stoved in the left side of Stanton’s face, fracturing bones, Boston, and Tampa, knocking out teeth, damaging his jaw, and creating a lac- and three in Toronto. Offset Cable Pull eration that required more than 20 stitches to close. After medical personnel attended to him for several minutes, Stanton was placed on a gurney and wheeled off the field. The 88 mph fastball HOOffsetW TO CableDO IT Pull Stand with the cable machine to Distraught after watching Stanton crumple to the ground, that injured Stanton’s your left, the handle set to mid-level.Plank Push Rows your hips Fiers proceeded to plunk the next batter too. Players from jaw affected his abil- back and twist your torso to the left to grab the both teams poured onto the field. ity to eat normally for handleOffset with Cable your Pull right hand, arm straight. This is the about a month. “I had starting position. Explosively pull the cable across It boded well for Stanton’s comeback that, as he saw an awkward bite. One your body as you twist your torso to the right, fin- the benches empty—he was watching on a small TV in side of my mouth ishing with your right elbow close to your right rib Offset Cable Pull Box Jump the bowels of Miller Park—he tried to rise from his gurney wouldn’t touch when cage. That’s 1 rep. Reverse the move and repeat. Do it came down,” he 5 reps on each side. Then immediately get into the and join the fray. “I wanted to get out there and get mine says. “I was nibbling plank position with your hands holding light dumb- in,” he recalls, laughing, “but I was strapped in.” on soft foods.” bells and do 10 reps of plank rows on each side. Hamstrings 92 MensHealth.com / April 2018 MensHealth.com / April 2018 93 Hamstrings

Hamstrings

Offset Cable Pull

Hamstrings Hamstrings Hamstrings

Hamstrings

Cat Camels

Cat Camels Cat Camels

Hamstrings Hamstrings

Plank Rows

Plank Rows

Plank Rows

Cat Camels

Hamstrings

Plank Rows Cat Camels

Plank Rows Kettlebell SwingKettlebell Swing

Romanian Deadlift Romanian Deadlift Kettlebell Swing

Zercher Squat

Romanian Deadlift Zercher Squat

Box Jump Zercher Squat

Box Jump “I Never

questioned Offset Cable Pull if i was going Box Jump to get back workout 2/ to where i was, strengtOffsethen Cable YOUR Pull ARMOR What if you could protect your body from injury with just a few exer- cises? That’s what Stanton finally did last season. For most of his career, just maybe his otherworldly strength had been both a blessing and a curse: His explosive swing left fans in awe but routinely overtaxed his supporting muscles. Only twice in his first seven seasons did he play in more than 123 games (out of 162). He discarded his “injury-prone” label last year, how long it thanks to a new warmup philosophy that made him durable enough to handle Offsethis power. Cable Result: Pull He missed just three games, cranked a career- high 59 homers, and became National League MVP. Steal his moves to would take.” knock your hamstring and back pain out of the park. —Michael Easter Hamstrings

Hamstrings

prevent TIGHT HAMSTRINGS Hamstrings why Hamstring strains don’t just position.Hamstrings Remain in the reverse plague regular guys; they also slow lunge position as you bend your down All-Stars like Stanton. Keep your torso over your left thigh; hold for hamstrings loose with this drill. Much 15 seconds. Raise your torso upright, like Stanton’s own warmup, it places then do 5 split-squat reps; after you in the lunge position, considered the fifth, hold for 15 seconds in the restorative in many yoga disciplines. bottom position. Return to the top how TO DO IT Start by standing of the split squat; hold your arms tall, arms overhead. Step back with out in front of you. Hinge forward your right leg into a reverse lunge, and lower your torso until it is parallel and then stand back up straight; do to the floor. Do 10, then repeat the 9 more, ending in the reverse lunge entire series with your left leg back. To say that Stanton, 28, has made a complete school in Sherman Oaks, , Stanton was a stud John VarvatosBone jeans, (above); shirt previous spread: Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins/Getty (top), Images Stanton took about 20 swings in batting practice and Hamstrings Styling: Sandra Nygaard, grooming: Emily Wetzel, prop styling: Kendall Faeth/Faeth Gruppe, Rag +

recovery is a glaring understatement. He led the majors wide receiver and cornerback coveted by then-USC coach Benny Sieu/USA Today Sports/Newscom, Mike McGinnis/Getty Gash/AP Morry Images, Photo hit a handful of balls out of the park, including two that last season with 59 home runs. Only one other big leaguer Pete Carroll. He was also a Rodmanesque rebounder aver- went rustling through treetops some 40 feet above the Cat Camels broke the 50-homer barrier in 2017: . And at aging 13 points per game for the basketball team. But in fence. Two balls even sailed over the access road beyond Hamstrings 6' 7" and 282 pounds, Judge has an inch and almost 40 ? He was only a middling . The sport the stadium and into a nearby golf course. After that jaw- pounds on him. 69 that eventually landed him a 13-year, $325 million con- dropping display of power, a throng of scouts made their Judge, of course, clubbed 52 homers in his rookie sea- tract—the most lucrative deal in the history of North way over to the rangy slugger, some of them going so far son with the Yankees. When reports started emerging American sports—was actually his third best when he as to ask, “Who are you?” that New York was trading for Stanton, Judge tweeted, yards was growing up. pitchers are about to find out for “Hey @Giancarlo818 [fist-bump emoji]...” above a GIF of Stanton’s As a junior, Stanton was overshadowed on the dia- themselves, especially those in the AL East, who will Will Ferrell asking John C. Reilly in the movie Step Broth- longest punt mond by lots of other Southern California schoolboys. “He face the Bronx Bombers 19 times and must now reckon in high school. ers, “Did we just become best friends?” just needed to play more,” says Tom Dill, his skipper at with a murderers’ row featuring the dueling yetis Judge ease LOWER BACK PAIN In addition to averag- Cat Camels Two days later, rumor became fact. The redwood-sized ing about 26 yards per Notre Dame. “Out here, kids play baseball year-round—it and Stanton, plus catcher Gary Sanchez (33 homers in power hitters had joined forces, leaving many Yankees catch as a receiver, gives them a big advantage—and he wasn’t.” ’17) and shortstop Didi Gregorius (25). When asked by a why Avoid back issues by doing and spreadPlank your shoulderRows blades. Stanton was one of Cal- cat-cows, whichCat Camelstake your spine Take four deep breaths in this posi- fans to wonder just who, exactly, was Judge’s new BBF. ifornia’s best punters. Stanton’s breakout moment, by all accounts, came reporter how difficult life will be for opposing pitchers, through a full range of motion. tion; then push your stomach toward (That would be Bash Bro Forever.) Scouts first posed that But he didn’t punt until during the summer before his senior year. That August, he Stanton replied, drily, “I feel sorry for the too.” how TO DO IT Get on all fours, your the floor, arching your back as much question when Stanton was a teenager, back when he went his senior year. Before was a no-namer competing alongside future first-round It is a league without pity, as Stanton was reminded hands directly beneath your shoul- as possible. Squeeze your shoulder that, all kicks were han- ders, knees under your hips. Push the blades together as you do this. Take by Mike. (His full name is Giancarlo Cruz-Michael Stan- dled by Kai Forbath, picks and at Long Beach’s upon returning to the lineup in 2015, a custom face guard middle of your back toward the ceil- four more long breaths. Do this once ton.) A three-sport athlete at Notre Dame High, a private now with the Vikings. Area Code Baseball Games, a showcase of young talent. DETWILER (illustrations) T.M. bolted to the left side of his helmet. Continued on p. 122 ing, rounding it as much as possible, or twice a day.

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Plank Rows Plank Rows bombs away! from p. 95

He told Men’s Health, “For two years, pitchers didn’t stop for at least 15 hours. Or more. Just seen before.” In other words, the late great Ph.D., a Florida-based sports psychologist. of lifelong memories for young fans every would throw up and in to scare me, just to get a ringing and a constant headache.” In his baseball philosopher Yogi Berra had it right “If you have a fear of public speaking,” time he steps into the box. me thinking about that.” They were probing, own way, Stanton had a blind spot too. when he said, “You can’t think and hit at the says Murray, “go to Hyde Park in London, By adding to their embarrassment of testing, spelunking in his head, trying to same time.” stand on a soapbox, and give a lecture... riches, it’s been suggested, the Yankees trigger him, to stir up some post-traumatic The average major leaguer has 20/12 Professional hitters step into the box and If you’re afraid there are ghosts in your have reclaimed their mantle as baseball’s stress. “I was aware of it,” he says. “But in eyesight, while roughly 4 percent of players soft-focus on the upper half of a pitcher’s closet, walk into the corners of the closet.” Evil Empire. Stanton laughs at and dis- terms of messing with me as a hitter, it never have 20/8 eyesight, which experts say is body, eventually zeroing in on the release What used to cause stress will cause less agrees with that contention, noting that did.” likely the sharpest limit possible for humans. point. Subconsciously they’re looking for of it. Stanton’s decision to face a machine the club originally earned its reputation If the addition of Stanton to their roster is (For the average person, 20/20 is considered recognizable tells or patterns. If you can see propelling baseballs in the area of his head because “they just bought everybody, enough to nudge these youthful Yankees into normal.) But extraordinarily acute vision more of the pitcher’s hand, it’s a changeup. If was, in Murray’s estimation, “perfect, right?” the World Series (they fell one win short last doesn’t fully explain how the Stantons and his hand is on the side of the ball, it’s a slider. psychologically.” The deal that put him in pinstripes season), it will be due in large part to his abil- Judges of the world are able to turn on 95 mph If the seams form a red dot, it’s a curveball. When it’s pointed out that he works in was a , he points out. True, the Yan- ity to work his way out of a dark place. Plenty fastballs and send them out of ballparks at Even a pitcher’s arm angle can help you a cold business, considering the way pitch- kees inherited a massive contract; he’ll of big leaguers have taken a pitch above the speeds in excess of 100 mph. It’s been said determine where the ball will end up—and ers tested his mettle by brushing him back make around $25 million per season in neck. Not all are the same when they return. that squaring up a round ball with a round it’s all vital information, because you have to after the beaning, Stanton laughs grimly New York. But, considering his star power If they ever return at all. bat is the hardest thing to do in all of sports— decide whether to swing or not before the ball and agrees. “No one’s gonna feel sorry for and production, they gave up relatively and theoretically, it should be impossible at is about halfway to the plate. you, I’ll tell you that,” he says. “I elimi- little for him: second baseman Starlin Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray the game’s highest level. But chunking can’t happen when the nated any type of fear because I thought Castro and a pair of prospects. Chapman died at 4:40 a.m. on August 17, It takes the average big-league heater brain finds no similar previous experiences, it would bring me failure.” After playing in front of sparse crowds 1920, and remains the only player in Major around 400 milliseconds to reach the front no helpful precedents. And that was Stanton’s Despite missing a combined 131 games in Miami, and never in the postseason, League history to be killed by a pitched ball. of the plate. That’s slightly longer than it blind spot on that fateful pitch: You can’t in 2015 and 2016 due to injuries, Stan- he’ll now perform in the league’s biggest The day before, he’d been beaned with such takes to blink if a light is shined in your eyes. instinctively react to a fastball thrown at your ton has clubbed 113 home runs since his market. Is Stanton ready for the com- force by Yankees sidewinder Carl Mays that In his 2013 book, The Sports Gene, David face if you’ve never seen it before. He spent an beaning. After tweaking his workouts (see pounded pressure and special scrutiny the ball bounced back out toward the mound. Epstein explains that about half that time is agonizing night in the hospital, pleading with pages 93 and 95), he played 159 games last that awaits stars in the Big Apple? Thinking it had hit Chapman’s bat, Mays chewed up as the information is received by nurses for medication. He recalls that every year, complementing those 59 dingers “This is a situation I’ve always fielded the ball and threw to first. the retinas (a baseball has been sighted and is 10 or 15 minutes, “I’d be telling them, ‘I need with a .631 , 132 RBIs, wanted,” he says. “The stuff outside the It took another 38 years for Major League inbound!) and then conveyed across synapses more. I need to change something. This isn’t and the National League MVP award. lines changes, but on the field, the game Baseball to require protective headgear for in the visual cortex. Only then does the brain working.’ ” Of course, the Marlins shut him By reeling him in, Yankees general is the same.” batters. Tony Conigliaro, a rising star right give the order to swing. down for the rest of the season, 17 games. manager seemed to be fielder for the , was wearing “The window for actually making contact His physical wounds healed, but the ques- heeding instructions embedded in the a helmet when he took a pitch to the left with the ball, when it is in reach of the bat, is 5 tion remained: Would he ever be the same club’s DNA. Stanton is the latest in a long Where to buy Adidas Giuseppe M.Gemi cheekbone from the California Angels’ Jack milliseconds,” Epstein writes, “and because predatory slugger? line of marquee sluggers—from Babe Ruth adidas.com Zanotti mgemi.com Adidas giuseppe New Balance Hamilton in 1967. But that lid lacked the the angular position of the ball relative to to to to Reggie Originals zanotti.com newbalance. Victims of trauma might undergo adidas.com Golden Goose com protective flap over the ear that has since the hitter’s eye changes so rapidly as it gets Jackson to —who will, as Aldo Deluxe Brand Nike aldoshoes.com goldengoose nike.com become mandatory. closer to the plate,” it’s literally impossible to “implosion therapy”—intensive recollection the late George Steinbrenner used to say, deluxebrand. Bally com Reebok bally.com reebok.com The beaning broke Conigliaro’s cheek- obey the earnest counsel given by every Little and review of anxiety-inducing situations put butts in Yankee Stadium seats. House of Future Christian thehouseof Salvatore Louboutin future.com Ferragamo bone and dislocated his jaw. But the most dev- League father in history: Keep your eye on the or events—in the safe confines of a mental That Stanton will report to work in the christian ferragamo.com louboutin.com Jason Markk jasonmarkk.com Tretorn astating and lasting damage was to his left ball! As Epstein notes, “Humans don’t have coach’s or sports psychologist’s office. Stan- Bronx comes as a mild disappointment to Coach tretorn.com coach.com Jimmy Choo jimmychoo.com Tretorn X eye. After the injury, his vision was measured a visual system fast enough to track the ball ton, confronting his trauma more directly, his friends and family in Southern Cali- Common Andre 3000 Projects John Lobb Benjamin at 20/300. It eventually improved to 20/100, all the way in.” headed right for the batting cages. fornia, who’d hoped to see him in Dodger mrporter.com johnlobb.com tretorn.com Converse X Kenneth Cole Vans but Conigliaro was never the same. He retired Then how does Stanton even make con- Offseason BP is usually about jogging blue. Stanton grew up listening to Vin JW Anderson macys.com vans.com converse.com Koio Veja in 1971, at age 26. (A brief comeback in 1975 tact, let alone crush those 59 homers last muscle memory and keeping your mechan- Scully’s silken calls of Dodgers games Diadora koio.co veja-store.com diadora.com Levi’s X Air Y-3 lasted just 21 games, during which he batted season that traveled a total of 4.67 miles? ics sharp. But Stanton asked for the gas. “I and admiring guys like Raul Dockers Jordan y-3.com dockers.com levi.com .123.) “I have lost my sight,” he lamented He does so by collecting a set of cues to wanted a lot of velocity,” he says, “more than Mondesi. Stanton’s father, Michael Sr., upon announcing his first retirement, “and essentially predict the future. This is what usual in the offseason, to let my eyes catch up, was a postal worker who took his son to Men’s Health (ISSN 1054-4836) Vol. 33, No. 3 is published 10 times per year, monthly except combined issues in January/February and am on the edge of losing my mind. I just can’t prominent Carnegie Mellon University get my reaction time back.” games “as often as I could. It wasn’t that July/August and when future combined issues are published that count as two issues as indicated on the issue’s cover, by Hearst Communications, Inc., at 300 W. 57th St., NY, NY 10019, USA. see the ball. I have no depth perception. I have psychologists William G. Chase and Her- At his direction, those fastballs came in often.” Steven R. Swartz, President & Chief Executive Officer; William R. Hearst III, Chairman; Frank A. Bennack, Jr., Executive Vice Chairman; a blind spot.” bert A. Simon referred to as the “chunking high and over the plate, inches from his face. But father and son were in the bleach- Catherine A. Bostron, Secretary. Hearst Magazines Division: David Carey, President; John A. Rohan Jr., Senior Vice President, Finance. Stanton, to this day, recalls only “sec- theory” of expertise. As Epstein explains He would alternate chin music with pitches ers in 1999 the day Dodgers pitcher Chan Copyright 2018 by Hearst Magazines, Inc. All rights reserved. Men’s Health is a registered trademark of Hearst Magazines, Inc. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and at additional mailing tions” of his beaning. “I remember the further in his book, “Rather than grappling down in the strike zone. Stanton was pleas- Ho Park gave up a pair of grand slams—in offices. In Canada: Postage paid at Gateway, Mississauga, Ontario; Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement Number 40063752. GST ball about halfway there,” he says. “Then I with a large number of individual pieces, antly surprised at how quickly he felt com- the same inning!—to the same batter, the #R122988611. Mailing Lists: From time to time we make our sub­ scriber list available to companies that sell goods and services by mail that we believe would interest our readers. If you would rather remember being on the ground. And that experts unconsciously group informa- fortable, once again, in his office. “I think I light-hitting Fernando Tatis. Now a four- not receive such mailings by postal mail, please send your current mailing label or exact copy to: Men’s Health, Mail Preference Cen­ ringing sound. My ears, and the pain in my tion into a smaller number of meaningful did a really good job kind of just erasing it,” time All-Star, Stanton is that rare player ter, P.O. Box 3064, Harlan, IA, 51593-0128. Customer Service: Call 1-800-666-2303 or write to Men’s Health Customer Service, P.O. Box temples, it’s impossible to forget. And that chunks based on patterns that they have he says. In full agreement is John Murray, who has the potential to create those kinds 3064, Harlan, IA 51593-0128.

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