Marlins' Stanton To Wear Protective Face Guard While Batting
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Marlins have been one of the most active teams during the offseason, building up a roster that is expected to content for a playoff spot in 2015.
The first puzzle piece that had to fall into place before any of those moves could happen was signing slugger Giancarlo Stanton to a contract extension.
The Marlins did just that, coming to terms with Stanton on a 13-year, $325 million deal last November that will keep in Miami for most, if not all of his career.
Stanton was having an MVP-caliber season in 2014 before his year was abruptly cut short when he was hit in the face by an errant pitch on September 11th in Milwaukee.
Since then, a big topic of discussion has been whether the 25-year-old will feel any effects from the scary experience when he starts taking at-bats during the upcoming season.
Stanton sustained several facial fractures and had some dental and jaw damage as well. He's still having dental surgeries but doesn't expect to have issues once Spring Training gets started later this month.
One difference that fans will see in Stanton when he steps up to the plate will be on his batting helmet.
He plans on wearing a protective face guard while hitting this season, similar to the one that Jason Heyward has worn since getting hit in the face in August of 2013 while playing with the Atlanta Braves.
Stanton plans on moving forward and is putting all his focus on the upcoming season. He still refuses to watch footage of himself getting hit last season.
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