Home Run Derby: Picking the participants


(Photo Credit: Arturo Pardavila III)

Every year, on the day before the All-Star Game, the Home Run Derby takes place. It’s always a blast to watch the best sluggers in the game face off against one another for a chance to be crowned the champion of the Derby but over the last few years, many of our game's top power hitters have opted not to take part in the event for various reasons.

Last year’s champion, Aaron Judge, has decided to never do the contest again after suffering a shoulder injury that required surgery in the offseason. Mike Trout, who leads the league with 19 home runs, wants nothing to do with the contest. Boston Red Sox sluggers Mookie Betts and JD Martinez have also said they won’t take part in the contest, with Betts’ reason being he doesn’t go for home runs in batting practice and Martinez’s reason is he still has a grudge over not being selected in 2015 as a member of the Detroit Tigers, a year in which he hit 38 home runs.

With four of the game's top sluggers declining to take part in the Derby, the list of candidates is small. Still, there are plenty of players who could take part in this summer’s contest at Nationals Park, so which eight players should we expect to see in the Home Run Derby this year?

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