In just his second year in the big leagues, Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton is already drawing raves across baseball. He led all rookies with 22 home runs last year, despite only playing half a season after the Marlins called him up from Double-A in June.

But now Stanton can count former home run king Mark McGwire among his admirers. Big Mac gushed about Stanton to the Miami Herald Wednesday, saying "Power hitters are born. He's just a born home run hitter."

McGwire also hinted Stanton's best may be yet to come. "When you get to this level, the big leagues, it's all about understanding the pitcher on the mound and your own strike zone, making adjustments," he told the Herald. "He just came up halftime last year. This is going to be his first full year. I can only imagine what his numbers are going to be 10 years from now."

It may not be too long before Stanton hits his stride. He hit only two home runs in April as he regained form after a leg injury sustained in Spring Training. But he has gone yard three times in the past four games, including a tape-measure shot in St. Louis on Monday that hit the Big Mac Land in Busch Stadium's second deck (watch the home run here).

"The swing was about six inches," McGwire said of the shot. "It was boom, boom. It was done. He can play for the next 25 years if he likes with that body, that physical stature he has."

Marlins fans can only hope the team doesn't trade him for prospects in four years to cut salary.

David Hill is a Miami native and cofounder of Marlins Diehards, the only Florida Marlins blog with perspective on the eccentricities of Marlins fandom.