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Stanton: Yankees debut was better than spring in Miami

Kim Klement / USA TODAY Sports

Giancarlo Stanton can't even see Marlins Park in his rearview mirror anymore.

Stanton officially donned a New York Yankees uniform for the first time in game action on Friday during their Grapefruit League opener against the Detroit Tigers. It wasn't a glamorous debut in pinstripes for the reigning National League MVP, but it's nonetheless a day he will likely remember for a long time.

When he tried to compare Friday to past spring games he participated in with the Miami Marlins, it was simply no contest.

"How'd it compare? This is better," Stanton said following the Yankees' 3-1 win, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "Just more exciting, I'd say. More excitement. More can't wait, happy for spring - it's a spring game, but (people) can't wait to see what we can do. That's what would be the difference."

Stanton, who was not joined in the lineup by his new powerful teammate Aaron Judge on Friday, worked a walk in his first at-bat. He bounced into a double play during his final plate appearance of the afternoon before ceding right field to youngster Billy McKinney.

But the 28-year-old was happy with how he performed on Friday, given that it's still quite early in the spring.

"Being completely ready, feeling how I would when I'm grooving in a season, it's a little bit of everything - timing, sight," Stanton said. "I think the thing that takes longest is the mental aspect of the pitches. The sequencing, how they're going to pitch with runners on, without. … It's good. Reminds me how hard it is.

"It was fun, a lot of fun. I was just trying to get my timing out there. It was good. It was a good day."

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