Moonshots, Dingers, Oppo-Tacos, and Piss Missiles. It seems like these would be really bad answers given in Celebrity Jeopardy on SNL, but they actually describe what you can see this evening in the MLB Home Run Derby. The heaviest hitters in baseball take center stage in Cleveland tonight (8 PM on ESPN) and oh what a show it will be. If you have nothing going on , I encourage you to watch and enjoy one of the most exhilarating events in all of sports.
Over the years, baseball has lost it’s luster, there’s no denying it. The length of the season, dominance of big markets, and lack of star players has decimated the amount of fans for America’s pastime. However, in recent years, baseball has been making a comeback. Extremely talented prospects are finally in the Majors after perfecting their game in the minors and they’re wreaking havoc. Tonight in Cleveland, the players of the future are grabbing a bat and seeing who has the biggest swing of them all. If you’ve complained about not knowing anyone in baseball, tonight you’ll have the chance to meet a lot of incredible young talent. Among the contestants in tonight’s derby, we’ll see an MVP contender and 4 faces of the franchise, plus an appearance from the hometown hero Carlos Santana which should add a little extra drama. It’s bound to be a wild night in Cleveland, so sit back, relax, and get your peanuts & cracker-jacks.
The biggest name fans should get accustomed to is Alex Bregman (25), 3rd baseman for the Houston Astros. Bregman has 23 HR’s this season, which gives him decent credibility to be in the Derby. While tonight he will showcase how much pop he has, Bregman is so much more than that. He’s helped lead the Astros to the 2nd most wins in the league before the All-Star break and is looking to bring them their 2nd World Series ring in 3 years this season. He is also in the running for Golden Glove at 3rd base, the honor given to the best defensive player at a specific position. A tenacious player and fun-spirited teammate, Bregman is an MVP candidate with his bat and his glove, making him a player you should really get to know.
Also in tonight’s derby, we have 4 players that are on the precipice of becoming the face of their franchise. Vladimir Guerrero Jr (Blue Jays), Pete Alonso (Mets), Josh Bell (Pirates), and Ronald Acuna Jr. (Braves) are all the future of their franchises. Guerrero Jr is the youngest of the bunch (20) but his potential may be the highest. With a powerful bat and the responsibility of carrying on the lineage of his father, Vladdy Jr. sends towering shots to the bleachers and beyond with ease. He only has 8 HR’s this season but don’t let that fool you; he was called up a month into the season and he’s still acclimating to the speed of the Major League game. Not to mention, Vladdy Jr has the chance to make him and his dad the first father/son combo to both win a home run derby; craziness.
Acuna (21 HR), Bell (27 HR), and Alonso (30 HR) have all settled in with their clubs and have proven to be reliable options at the plate for their teams when need be. Bell and Alonso are not only exceptional power hitters, they’re extremely valuable to their teams with run support. Bell has a whopping 84 RBI’s heading into the break while Alonso has an impressive 64 RBI’s; they can rake. These guys are going to be in the league for a long time too, as Acuna is 21, Alonso is 24, and Bell is 26. Chase Utley retired last year at the age of 39, so these guys definitely have a lot left to put out on the diamond. These are some of the best and brightest baseball has to offer and we need to take notice now before its too late.
Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa and so many more are iconic all because of the Home Run ball. The players in tonight’s Home Run Derby have the same iconic potential, and the easiest way to prove it is to see for yourself. The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd and the excitement of fellow teammates makes the Home Run Derby a special event and one not to miss; there’s nothing quite like it. Baseball isn’t dead, not by a longshot… except for the baseball’s that are going to be murdered via longshot tonight… bad joke, but I digress. Tonight some of the best players in the game are going to put on a show, and with them at the forefront of the sport, baseball will once again return to America’s Favorite Pastime.
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