Why Yankees’ Aaron Boone says Giancarlo Stanton will take ‘big step forward’

Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes designated hitter/outfielder Giancarlo Stanton will take a “big step forward” in 2019.

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Designated hitter and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton wasn’t the middle-of-the-lineup force the Yankees envisioned in his first year in the Bronx.

Of course, the 38 home runs and 100 RBI he produced were far from shabby, and he helped carry the offense when a fractured wrist sidelined Aaron Judge for more than a month. But for the $25 million he was making, and after winning the 2017 National League MVP, his performance didn’t meet lofty expectations.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes the 29-year-old slugger will “take a big step forward” in 2019, and Boone explained why.

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“I think he’ll certainly come in knowing his teammates, knowing what to expect, feeling more comfortable and I think you’re going to see a guy that’s going to have a better year,” Boone said on the “Boomer and Gio” show on WFAN radio on Friday.

Stanton will benefit from more familiarity with his team and with American League pitchers, Boone said.

“The one thing he’s shown,” Boone said, “really across the board in his career if you look at him, the more he sees a pitcher, the more success he has. I think some of the struggles could be attributed to switching teams, switching leagues, seeing guys for the first and second time and I think he’ll take a big step forward for us again in what was a productive year.”

Stanton homered twice in his first game as a Yankee in Toronto but hit just .240 with 16 homers and a .792 OPS through his initial 66 games.

Then he went on a tear.

Over 59 games from June 17 through Aug. 22, Stanton hit .336 with 16 home runs and 44 RBI for a 1.010 OPS.

He cooled off a bit the rest of the way, hitting just .192 with six bombs and a .684 OPS in his final 32 games.

A tight left hamstring also plagued Stanton through most — if not all — of the second half.

Here’s Boone’s full quote on Stanton’s first season and the manager’s 2019 expectations for him:

Sure, we had those conversations. But I think the one thing that blew me away about Giancarlo was just his focus and his professionalism. Even early in the season, wearing it every day, going through his struggles. The look in his eye, the work he was putting in behind the scenes — he was really unaffected. Whenever you’re scuffling or doing well, it has an effect on you as a player certainly. But he was so workmanlike and he was a really good teammate. You could never tell if he hit a couple home runs or if he hit a rough patch during the week with the way that he approached his business and on balance he ends up having a really productive season for us. Going into this year, I think he’ll certainly come in knowing his teammates, knowing what to expect, feeling more comfortable and I think you’re going to see a guy that’s going to have a better year. The one thing he’s shown, really across the board in his career if you look at him, the more he sees a pitcher, the more success he has. I think some of the struggles could be attributed to switching teams, switching leagues, seeing guys for the first and second time and I think he’ll take a big step forward for us again in what was a productive year.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.