SAN DIEGO--Giancarlo Stanton wore out Petco Park with a record display of power in the All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night, peppering every landmark from the left field corner to center field.
Stanton hit 20 homers in the final round to best defending champion Todd Frazier of the Chicago White Sox. Overall, the Miami Marlins slugger hit a record 61, shattering the single-night mark of 41 by Bobby Abreu in 2005.
Stanton's impressive shots hit the top level of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building in the left-field corner and the top of the batter's eye in center field. He sent several balls just below the giant scoreboard high atop the left-field stands and several over the bullpens in left-center.
"For sure, being on the West Coast and taking the flight out here just for this, you know. I figure it's a waste if I don't bring this bad boy home,'' Stanton said, hoisting the trophy.
The three-time All-Star is not on the National League roster for Tuesday night's game after batting .233 with 20 homers and 50 RBIs before the break. "I had a great time. I had a blast.''
Literally. His longest shot was estimated at 497 feet. He hit the eight longest homers of the competition and 20 of the 21 deepest drives.
"When I get a few in a row I would kind of bump it up 5 to 10 percent,'' he said. "But most the time I stuck at 80-90 percent. I knew I could do it endurance-wise. I was just hoping my swing didn't fall about.''
Stanton can defend his title at home next year when the Marlins host the All-Star Game. "That is where I got my childhood memories, watching the Home Run Derby as a kid,'' said Stanton, who's from Los Angeles. "Maybe some kids are watching me. I would like to return that.''
Stanton is baseball's highest-paid player with a $325 million, 13-year deal. His new hitting coach is home run king Barry Bonds.
Frazier, who's not on the American League All-Star team, hit 13 in the final round. He was a hometown winner last year while with the Cincinnati Reds. He was traded to the White Sox in December.
