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Marlins Manager Mike Redmond puts Miguel Cabrera, Giancarlo Stanton in same elite category

Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond said before Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers that Miguel Cabrera and Giancarlo Stanton are similar in many ways. Redmond played with Cabrera in 2003 on the Marlins' championship team.

By Scott Gelman
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Marlins manager Mike Redmond knows the way Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera can play. When he was a catcher for the Marlins on the 2003 championship team, Redmond got to see the skill set of Cabrera on display.

Several years later, this time as a manager, Redmond has been able to watch another young power hitter develop. On Saturday, Redmond compared the development of Giancarlo Stanton to that of Cabrera.

"You look at their presence in the box," Redmond said in an interview with MLB.com. "If you look at raw power, nobody has more power than Stanton does. His power is unbelievable. But they do have a lot of similarities."

Stanton's arrival was highly anticipated, and perhaps the most significant promotion the Marlins made since promoting Cabrera in '03. Cabrera is a natural power hitter, and Stanton, though he take pride in his ability to hit home runs, has the ability necessary to put the ball in the gaps and drive it to all fields.

Redmond also said that the work ethic of the two is comparable.

"[Cabrera] was still learning, too. It's not like everything he hit went out of the ballpark. He showed signs that he was a great hitter, but at times, he had his struggles. It's that process. You start from a young player, and it's really how you learn, how you grow and learn and make adjustments."

In 115 games, Stanton has batted .249 with 24 homers and 62 runs batted in. Stanton's injury issues have led to inconsistent seasons.

On the contrary, in 148 games, Cabrera is batting .348 with 44 home runs and 137 runs batted in. He is the favorite to win his second MVP crown, and has been nothing but consistent and productive for the Tigers.

Ironically, Redmond chose to compare the two sluggers during the same weekend President of Baseball Operations Larry Beinfest, who traded Cabrera to the Tigers, was dismissed.

Cabrera ranks fourth in franchise history with 138 home runs in 720 games as a Marlin. Stanton has posted 117 in 488 games.

Although Stanton's swing has put him in difficult situations at times, Redmond praised Cabrera's consistent swing, noting that one day Stanton and Cabrera should be discussed in the same conversation.

"His swing is short and compact," Redmond said. "Then you incorporate the mental side, how he understands pitching and seems to know exactly what pitch is coming every single pitch. That sometimes is the difference between a good hitter and a great hitter."

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