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Bautista's Toronto teammate Edwin Encarnacion is third in the league with 26 home runs, but is currently on the disabled list. Martinez might also bow out of the running as he's been held out of recent games due to injury. He is not an overpowering presence on the field, but he knows how to keep his swing short and turn the power from his hips to the bat without losing any of the momentum. Stanton is currently having the best season of his young career.
That's too bad because Cruz and his sweet power stroke probably would have been one of the favorites to win it. Finally, the winners of the third round—one from the AL and one from the NL—will face off in the finals to determine a champion. With the crowd in Minnesota electric for the event, the National League captain should be the favorite. Tulo has racked up an impressive .344 batting average, 21 home runs, 52 RBI and .435 on-base percentage, and has been one of the only reasons the Rockies have found any success in 2014. Each man in the Home Run Derby is worthy of being on the main stage, but few have the unique mixture of raw power and consistency that Colorado Rockies shortstops Troy Tulowitzki possesses in the batter’s box.
Major League Baseball Home Run Derby
Many players, such as Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Abreu, and Nelson Cruz, publicly declined invitations or said they would not participate if invited. The size of the roster expanded to five players from each league, but the fifth players from each league will not be revealed until Thursday, with the winners of the Final Vote. He's not quite matching Stanton's power, but he's been very consistent, boasting a league-best .350 batting average while sending 20 balls out of the park. Five players from each league will get a chance at the plate during the first round with the top hitters from each side receiving a bye to the third round. The next two players from both sides with face off in the second round with the winners advancing to face the top seeds. Led by team captains Jose Bautista and Troy Tulowitzki , each squad possesses the ability to steal the show with elite power and consistency.
He has a choice of Baltimore's Nelson Cruz , the White Sox's Jose Abreu and Detroit's Victor Martinez . Stanton is the only player in the National League group that ranks in the top five in the majors in home runs with 21 entering play Tuesday night, but he is the NL-leader in the category. "Bunch of guys with a lot of power," Tulowitzki said of his team.
Home Run Derby 2014: List of participants
Toronto has been one of baseball's biggest surprises this season and currently leads the vaunted AL East by 1.5 games. The format is new this year, with five participants in each league and seven outs each round. There are few events in all of sports that capture the minds of the fans like the Home Run Derby, and this year’s event has some real heavy hitters. After a wild first round, baseball fans should expect the biggest names like Bautista, Tulowitzki, Cespedes, Puig, Jones and Stanton to be in contention. In June, MLB named José Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays and Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies the Home Run Derby captains.
With 17 home runs this season already, the Blue Jays star will be looking to reach the 30-home run plateau once again. One of the biggest stars to grace the 2014 Home Run Derby is Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, and he will have a legitimate shot to steal the show by winning the entire event. Here is a full list of participants and a focus on the player most likely to win. According to MLB.com, Stanton leads the league in distance on his home runs, averaging an astounding 423.8 feet per bomb. That kind of freakish power could make the annual event even more special. The key for Stanton is just taking it easy and not forcing the issue.
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But he should not be so under the radar at this point—the man is known for homers in the minds of those who have followed his career. Everything needs a bracket these days, so it was only a matter of time before the participants in the long-ball contest got crammed into one. But understand that nobody is complaining—watching the likes of Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Bautista and Yasiel Puig face off in a bracket is nothing but a good time. "If he wins that final vote, there's possibly a chance," Tulowitzki said. "I think it would make a storyline. Played with the Twins all those years. He's definitely on the list if he makes the team. There are some other guys as well that have lobbied and would be good choices."
On July 8, 2014, the captains each made their first three picks, while saving their final pick for July 10. With top sluggers like Jose Bautista, Troy Tulowitzki and Giancarlo Stanton taking part in the annual event, fans should expect some serious heavy hitting. Add in the new bracket format, and this will be a special showcase.
With a .302 batting average, 21 home runs, 62 RBI and a .401 on-base percentage, there are many fans and experts who believe he should start the All-Star Game. Ryan Fagan, the national MLB writer for The Sporting News, has been a Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2016. The incredibly powerful Stanton, of course, is a no-brainer for this contest and probably the immediate favorite to win the event, regardless who else is chosen. He has 21 homers this year for the Miami Marlins and is one of the top contenders for the NL MVP award. Troy Tulowitzki is the captain of the National League team, and Jose Bautista leads the American League team.
Instead of 10 outs in the first round, each contestant gets only seven outs. Then the derby slides into a bracket format, with the top first-round performer in each league getting a bye. After the league finals, the AL and NL champs will square off and the winner will be crowned Home Run Derby champ. Bautista, 33, has been one of the American League's fiercest sluggers for the past half-decade. The Blue Jays outfielder has a career-high .305 batting average to go along with 15 home runs and 49 RBI.
Also a possibility for the final NL spot is Tulowitzki's teammate and former Minnesota Twin Justin Morneau. Morneau is a candidate in the Final Vote to make the All-Star team. The hope is that Bautista will be able to translate his power to the softer batting practice-style pitching he will face during the Home Run Derby. Since 2010, he has hit an incredible 169 home runs and still looks to be going strong, even at 33 years old.
For the sake of baseball fans across the world, let’s hope Stanton finds a rhythm and starts hitting shots deep into the event and steals the overall victory. There are still a number of big announcements to come, such as the winners of the final vote, the starting pitchers for the all-star game, and some inevitable injury replacements. Stay tuned to Last Word On Sports as we will have complete coverage before, during, and after the 2014 MLB All-Star Game and throughout the rest of what is quickly becoming an exciting 2014 Major League Baseball season. The 2014 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby was a home run hitting contest in Major League Baseball between five batters each from the American League and National League. The derby was held on July 14, 2014, at the site of the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton leads MLB with 27 home runs, but suffered a broken left hand after getting struck on the wrist by a pitch on June 26. Detroit outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who has 12 home runs this season, won last year's event. Donaldson, who is best known for his defensive plays, broke the All-Star Game record for most fan votes after adding 21 homers so far to his repertoire. It’s time for the annual MLB All-Star festivity in which we get to watch baseballs get hit very long ways.
Here are the full rosters for the 2014 Home Run Derby, predictions and a focus on the player most likely to steal the show.
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