Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is becoming known around MLB for his ability to hit baseballs with no regard for their well-being. Stanton's legend grew just a bit larger on Friday, when he hit a home run during batting practice that landed in a parking lot and broke a car's windshield.
That windshield happened to belong to Alex Kim, who works for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Stanton was at the Diamondbacks' spring training facility in Phoenix, training with Team USA before the start of World Baseball Classic play.
Kim told MLB.com that he was "a little upset" when he discovered the broken windshield. "My first reaction was I have to pay for a windshield that I didn't break."
Kim was able to get the window replaced, though, and Stanton signed the broken windshield for him (he also gave Kim an autographed ball). The Diamondbacks tweeted a photo of Stanton, Kim, and the broken windshield on Friday.
Kim said he does not plan to get rid of the windshield. "I guess make a coffee table out of it," he said when asked what he will do with it. "It's a great talking piece. I'm going to tweet it, Facebook it. This is definitely a moment I'll never forget. I'm pretty excited."
This is not the first time Stanton caused damage with a batted ball. In 2012, he temporarily broke a scoreboard in left field of Marlins Park with a grand slam.
Stanton is one of the few bright spots for the team heading into the 2013 season. He hit 37 home runs in 2012 despite missing 39 games, and 29% of the fly balls he hit last season left the park.
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