SAN DIEGO _ Not too long ago Giancarlo Stanton was struggling just to hit a baseball consistently.
On Monday night, Stanton repeatedly sent them soaring and speeding out of the park more times than anyone in the history of the Home Run Derby.
Stanton blasted the better part of 61 home runs overall to win his first-ever All-Star Home Run Derby.
The total was the highest in the 31-year history of the event.
Stanton's 20 home runs in the final round of the eight-player, single-elimination contest was enough to dethrone defending champion Todd Frazier of the White Sox, who won it last year as a member of the Reds.
By the end of the first round in which he crushed 24 home runs _ a single-round record _ he had everyone including former Derby champion David Ortiz marveling at his dominance. Ortiz, a Derby champion in 2010, was seen gesturing in reverence to Stanton as he watched.
His fellow Marlins All-Stars mobbed him in celebration after he hit took his final swing of the competition.
Stanton's longest home run was 497 feet, a distance he clocked more than once during the competition.
His opening round left 2011 Derby champion Robinson Cano in the distance after he only hit seven home runs.
Mark Trumbo, who leads the majors with 28 home runs this season made things interesting in the second round. But his 14 homers came up short of Stanton's 17.
Stanton continued to smash the ball to left and center field, knocking two past the scoreboard and out of sight behind the left field bleachers.
Marlins assistant coach/replay coordinator Pat Shine tossed the ball to Stanton during the competition.
Stanton was named the National League's Player of the Week before the Derby began after hitting five home runs and finishing with 10 RBIs last week.
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