By Brayden Donemore, Senior Writer, MLB-Pro.com
NEW YORK — Under the electric lights of Yankee Stadium, with the summer heat already beginning to thicken the Bronx air, Giancarlo Stanton did what only a handful of men in baseball history have ever done. With a powerful flick of his bat and a roar from the crowd still echoing off the monuments in center field, Stanton launched the 500th home run of his illustrious MLB career.
It was a no-doubter—just like so many of the 499 that came before.
The 35-year-old slugger, playing in his 1,910th career game, turned on an 0-2 fastball from Padres right-hander Braxton Ashcroft and sent it 371 feet into the left-field bleachers. The crowd rose in unison before the ball even landed, as if they all understood that history had just been written in pinstripes.
Stanton’s 500th blast places him atop the all-time leaderboard in the MLB Pro era—above Gary Sánchez, Bryce Harper, and a constellation of other modern sluggers. More than just a milestone, it’s a monument to longevity, resilience, and raw power, carved over 14 seasons and through eight different organizations.
The New York Yankees, a franchise synonymous with home run royalty—Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Maris, Reggie, Rodriguez—now count Stanton among their iconic ranks. He is the first player in Yankees history during the MLB Pro era to reach 500 career home runs, a feat as much about wear-and-tear as it is about thunderous swings.
“I just wanted to contribute,” Stanton said postgame, still catching his breath in front of a scrum of reporters. “You never come into this game thinking about numbers like 500. You think about surviving the grind, putting in the work, and trying to win a ballgame. But when something like this happens—man, it’s surreal.”
The Blast That Brought the Bronx to Its Feet
It came in the bottom of the first inning with the Yankees already threatening. Oneil Cruz and Michael Pearl had drawn back-to-back walks, and after two quick outs, the stage was set. Ashcroft got Stanton into an 0-2 hole with a called strike and a foul ball. Then came the pitch Stanton had seen a thousand times before—a belt-high heater. The bat met it squarely, sending it on a majestic arc to left.
Exit velocity: 96.9 MPH. Launch angle: 27 degrees. The reaction: instant pandemonium.
His teammates spilled from the dugout as Stanton rounded the bases, pointing to the sky as he crossed home. Yankee Stadium exploded in cheers, and chants of “Stant-on! Stant-on!” echoed around the stands.
From Miami to Monument Park
Stanton’s journey to 500 has been far from linear. Drafted as a prized prospect in Miami, he quickly grew into one of the league’s most feared power hitters. 2014 in Tampa Bay will always be remembered for the season in which he truly exploded, clubbing 56 home runs and driving in 150. Stints in St. Louis, Chicago, San Diego, Toronto, and now New York have filled out a career of both wanderlust and dominance.
He’s led the league in home runs three times, won an MVP, and now stands as the MLB Pro leader in career games (1,910), at-bats (7,176), total bases (3,710), RBIs (1,351), and strikeouts (2,231). In some ways, his resume is a paradox: relentless power, but equally relentless vulnerability to the whiff. Yet, in a game built on failure, Stanton has simply failed less than most.
500 in Context
Stanton is now part of an elite club—though the only one at the top of it. His 500 home runs put him ahead of Sánchez (391), Harper (372), and the now-retired Miguel Cabrera (299). He’s become a living bridge between generations, the last thunderclap of the power-first era.
“Giancarlo’s bat changed the game tonight,” Yankees manager Jim Thome said. “He’s been everything we hoped he would be when we brought him here. He’s a leader, a pro, and now—a legend.”
What Comes Next
Stanton, never one for long soliloquies, hinted that this may be his final season. “I’ve given a lot to this game. Maybe it’s got one more good run left in me.”
If this is the end, he’s leaving the game in style, delivering moments that will live in Yankee lore for generations to come.
In a season already marked by the Yankees’ struggles, Stanton’s 500th was more than personal—it was revitalizing. With one swing, he reminded everyone why this sport, and this city, still reveres the long ball.
And why his name, now etched into the history books, belongs forever among the greats.