Mike Stanton is now “Giancarlo Cruz Mike Stanton”

Mike Stanton, the young, powerful and up and coming superstar for the Miami Marlins is poised to have a break-out season in 2012. However, you will not see any of Mike Stanton this year.

Stanton told reporters Wednesday that from now on he would like to be called by the actual name that appears on his birth certificate and pay checks and, additionally, the name that owner Jeffrey Loria calls him: Giancarlo.

Stanton’s full name is Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton and it does not have any kind of Italian ties connected to it. Giancarlo is just a name his parents liked.

As long as Stanton is hitting home runs and driving in runs, you may call him whatever you like. Stanton has hit fifty-six career home runs before his 22nd birthday and only ranks behind Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez for most before age twenty-two.

Stanton his project to hit 37 home runs and drive in 97 RBI according to the ZIPS projection from the Baseball Think Factory.