Throughout the years baseball fans have seen some of the best shows put on during the All-Star week in the home run derby event. It’s pretty impossible to not remember the amazing 28 home run first round that Josh Hamilton had in Yankee Stadium in 2009, or in the 90’s when Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Ken Griffey Jr. participated in so many of these home run derby’s. Personally I really enjoy the home run derby’s, but I’m starting to see a trend that I don’t like.
Second baseman Robinson Cano won this event in 2011 in Chase Field, then he finished in last place both of 2012 and 2013 including a derby where he had zero home runs.
Recently injured first baseman Prince Fielder won the derby in 2012, but he has participated in this event 5 times (2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013).
Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp has been in the derby twice, in 2011 and 2012 and has an unimpressive 3 home runs combined.
Do you see the pattern here? We are seeing the same players over and over again while there is so many power hitters to choose from. The MLB did something recently where they chose two captains, one from each league, to pick the other three players from their league to participate. I have disliked this also, Prince Fielder took Rickie Weeks with him to the 2011 home run derby. Weeks just isn’t a player I was dying to see in the derby. Fielder also heard it from some D-Backs fans for not taking a home town player.
The new approach that should be taken this year is to go with players that have the most raw power. Players like David Wright, have participated also, but to me Wright is a great overall hitter and not ideal for the derby.
This year I want to see big time power hitters in the derby, but it could be difficult to get my wish.
Major League Baseball, if you’re reading this, here are the players I would like to see in this year’s home run derby.
American League
Jose Abreu– White Sox (0 previous participation’s)
Nelson Cruz– Orioles (1 previous participation)
Edwin Encarnacion– Blue Jays (0 previous participation’s)
Adam Dunn– White Sox (0 previous participation’s)
National League
Giancarlo Stanton– Marlins (0 previous participation’s)
Mark Reynolds– Brewers (0 previous participation’s)
Evan Gattis– Braves (0 previous participation’s)
Todd Frazier– Reds (0 previous participation’s)
With these players not only do we have a lot of raw power, but we will get to see players who are new to the event.
Photo Credit: MLB.com