PHOTO: Giancarlo Stanton's customized batting helmet for 2015
JUPITER, Fla. - Giancarlo Stanton saw his first live pitches since his beaning back in September. The Miami Marlins will have to wait at least one more day to watch Stanton take his first swing.
While other members of his hitting group swung freely Thursday during the Miami's first live batting practice sessions of the spring, Stanton - wearing a traditional-style batting helmet - tracked all 10 pitches he saw, five from Henderson Alvarez and five from Brad Hand, into the catcher's mitt.
Stanton did, however, try on his new customized helmet, which he's expected to wear for the 2015 season. The helmet features a face guard intended to protect the left side of his face:
Yeah, @Giancarlo818 – The faceguard plays. pic.twitter.com/cn3B4Cv9Xh
— MLB (@MLB) February 26, 2015
The 25-year-old Stanton says he didn't experience any anxiety stepping into the batter's box for the first time since a Mike Fiers fastball broke his orbital bone and damaged five teeth during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers in September.
He says, ''It was just like any other spring training.''
- With files from theScore