LA Native Giancarlo Stanton Shines in MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium

Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees holds up the Ted Williams MVP Award after the American League defeated the National League 3-2 during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 19, 2022, Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Giancarlo Stanton was named MVP after hitting a two-run 457-foot homer in the MLB All-Star game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night.

Byron Buxton followed with another home run, allowing the American League to win its ninth straight All-Star Game over the the National League 3–2.

“I can’t really explain how special this is,” said Stanton, a Los Angeles native and childhood Dodgers fan. “It’s hard to put into words that this is reality right now. It’s really cool. I’m soaking it all in.”

Stanton was selected in the second round of the 2007 MLB draft by the Marlins and would eventually sign the largest valued contract in team sports history worth $325 million over 13 years in November 2014—before moving to the Yankees after the 2017 season.

“When the lights are brightest, that’s what you want to do,” Stanton said. “That’s what the fans come to see. That’s what we work tireless hours for.”

Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees poses with the Ted Williams MVP Award after the American League defeated the National League 3-2 during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 19, 2022. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

In 2017, Stanton led the league in home runs with 59 132 RBIs, and a .631 slugging percentage, to win the National League MVP. He also won the NL Hank Aaron Award and outfield Silver Slugger Award as a five-time All-Star.

Stanton grew up as Mike Stanton in Sherman Oaks, attending high school at Notre Dame. In 2011, Stanto asked to be called “Giancarlo” after connecting with his Latin roots during an off-season trip to Europe.

At Tuesday’s game, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, nine-time All-Star, got his first All-Star start for the National League as Dodger Stadium hosted the mid-summer classic for the first time since 1980.

“I tried to take a minute at the beginning to take it all in and look around, which I usually never do,” said Kershaw. “It kind of calmed everything down for me and then I had a lot of fun.”

Kershaw’s first pitch resulted in giving up his solo hit to nearby rival Los Angeles Angels reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani.

Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 19, 2022. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

“I was definitely swinging a hundred percent,” Ohtani said through a translator. “Kershaw has really good command.”

Meanwhile, AL starter Shane McClanahan of Tampa Bay gave up two runs and four hits in the first inning. Ronald Acuna Jr. opened with hit a ground rule double and scored after a Mookie Betts’ single. Austin Goldschmidt then homered to give the NL a 2–0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Stanton’s record distance 457-foot homer off of Dodgers Tony Gonsolin following Ramirez’s single tied the game, and Buxton’s home run would secure an American League victory 3–2.

Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats against the American League during the 92nd MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on July 19, 2022. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

AL pitcher Framber Valdez of Houston got credit for the win with a scoreless third inning.

The regular season returns on Thursday with six games.