Marlins’ Stanton faces first live pitches since being hit

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) – Giancarlo Stanton saw his first live pitches since his beaning back in September. The 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.

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 in September.

He says, “It was just like any other spring training.”