The Home Run Derby is just two weeks from today, and MLB is implementing some new rules to switch things up a little bit. But let’s be honest here – people tune in to the Home Run Derby to see elite home run hitters. This year, those tuning in to see the top power hitters in the game may be disappointed.
MLB homer Giancarlo Stanton won’t be participating because of a fractured hamate bone in his hand.
Bryce Harper, tied for second in baseball in homers, may not participate because he dad (who serves as his pitcher) recently had shoulder surgery.
What about Mike Trout, tied for second in the AL in homers? His participation is a question mark, though he declined to take part in the event last year.
Maybe Paul Goldschmidt, one of six MLB players with at least 20 homers? Nah, he’s not interested.
Nelson Cruz? Not sure yet, but he turned down an invite last year.
Miguel Cabrera? Last year, he said thanks but no thanks.
Anthony Rizzo? Hey, he actually said he wanted to be in the event last year! There’s one!
Todd Frazier? Yep, the 2014 runner-up wants to win the crown in his home park. There’s two!
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 14: American League All-Star Jose Bautista #19 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the Gillette Home Run Derby at Target Field on July 14, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
So we’ve got two guys…who else? Jose Bautista was a captain last year and has appeared in three of the last four derbies, so I’d assume he’s a shoo-in if he’s interested. The same is true for Yoenis Cespedes, the two-time reigning champion. There’s four logical names.
The top five home run hitters in baseball that we haven’t ruled out for one reason or another are Albert Pujols, Nolan Arenado, Joc Pederson, JD Martinez, and Luis Valbuena. I don’t think Pujols would be too interested – he’s finally healthy and playing well, and hasn’t been a part of a Home Run Derby since 2009. Arenado and Pederson are solid choices, as both are young players who hit plenty of long homers in bunches.
We’ve got two slots left, and if you really want to use the “four players from each league” selection method, the final two players have to be from American League teams. And it just so happens that the two guys I’m thinking of are members of AL clubs.
One is Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson, who was in the Derby last year and is having another great season in 2015 with the Blue Jays.
The other is Alex Rodriguez.
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 20: Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees follows through on a second inning run scoring sacrifice fly against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on June 20, 2015 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
I realize this is a long shot, for plenty of reasons. A-Rod hasn’t been in a Home Run Derby since 2002. There’s that whole “PED” thing surrounding him that will never go away. Major League Baseball doesn’t exactly feel like putting him on a pedestal and showing him off to fans of the game.
But Rodriguez *is* a guy that people will tune in to see, and he’s actually a deserving choice. He’s smashed 15 homers this year, and could surpass 18 (his highest total since he went yard 30 times in 2010) by the All-Star Break. He’s made history this year, crossing the 3,000 hit, 660 home run, and 2,000 RBI marks, with 2,000 runs also in his sights. It would be cool to see A-Rod, for all of his faults, on his massive stage in front of a national audience. Plus, if he fails miserably, those who despise him can lustily boo him in front of his contemporaries.
My ideal Home Run Derby field would look something like this…
National League
Nolan Arenado
Todd Frazier
Joc Pederson
Anthony Rizzo
American League
Jose Bautista
Yoenis Cespedes
Josh Donaldson
Alex Rodriguez
This is a dream situation, and in reality, we’re probably going to end up seeing someone like the aforementioned JD Martinez or Luis Valbuena taking up a spot. But hey, that happens every so often in the Home Run Derby. Last year, we saw Brian Dozier. In 2009, Brandon Inge got a spot. Back in 2005, MLB gave a spot to Hee-Seop Choi to hype the World Baseball Classic. The Derby is supposed to be fun and shouldn’t be taken seriously at all, so let’s not get too outraged when some of baseball’s biggest stars aren’t involved.
