Houston Astros: Alex Bregman the Homerun Derby contestant

Home Run Derby

The Home Run Derby is the equivalent of the Slam Dunk Contest in basketball. It has transpired from a television event where names like Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays would compete to win cash every week at a ballpark. It’s grown into the big attraction at All-Star Weekend since 1985.

Some of my favorite memories include watching Josh Hamilton hit 28 first round homers at Yankee Stadium. Or seeing Ken Griffey Jr.’s sweet swing to win the competition. I remember former Astro Luis Gonzalez win the 2001 Home Run Derby defeating Barry Bonds, who would hit 73 homers that season. There is another memory that I remember well. But I’m going to share later down this entry.

Contestants

So here are the2018 Home Run Derby contests by way of seeding and playoff format.

#1 Jose Aguilar (Milwaukee Brewers) vs. #8 Rhys Hoskins (Philadelphia Phillies)

#2 Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals) vs. #7 Freddie Freeman (Atlanta Braves)

#3 Max Muncy (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs. #6 Javier Baez (Chicago Cubs)

#4 Alex Bregman (Houston Astros) vs. #5 Kyle Schwarber (Chicago Cubs)

Must Read: Optioning Giles is what is best for team and player

So what happens is that each batter will hit as many homers as they can in a certain amount of time. The player with the most homers will advance to the next round.

Bregman’s first-round opponent is Kyle Schwarber (17 HRs). So if he wins, he’ll take on the winner between Jose Aguilar (23 HR) and Rhys Hoskins (14 HR). Win there and he’ll advance to the final.

What Happened to the Big Bats?

With the exception of Bryce Harper, who I think will be the favorite to win the tournament, this isn’t exactly a star-studded field. That’s because many star players, including last year’s champion Aaron Judge, have chosen not to participate. Probably because there’s a feeling that you might start the second half in a slump. Judge would know since he struggled after winning it all, which might have been one reason why Altuve won MVP. But I know Altuve was better all year round.

Is the home run derby overrated? Well, you look at this group and think this might be like the NBA Slam Dunk Contest where supporting cast members compete instead of LeBron James. But this isn’t to say these guys aren’t supporting cast members. They can be superstars. Alex Bregman has emerged as a star along with Max Muncy for the Dodgers. This is a chance for them to put on a show.