Mets third baseman David Wright. (PHOTO: Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports)
American League captain Robinson Cano and National League captain David Wright announced their teams for the Home Run Derby on Monday night. Since both captains play home games in New York and this season’s Derby and All-Star Game will be at Citi Field, neither risks the treatment Cano received in Kansas City when he snubbed Royals slugger Billy Butler.
The 2013 Home Run Derby teams are as follows:
National League
David Wright: Wright hits with power, but hardly tallies the type of gaudy home-run totals normally associated with the Home Run Derby. In 2006, though, he stole the show in the event’s early rounds before losing in the Finals to Ryan Howard. Wright saw his power numbers drop off in the second half of that season, and many attributed his decreased production to the adjustments he made to his swing while participating in the competition.
(PHOTO: Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports)
Carlos Gonzalez: The sweet-swinging Rockies outfielder benefits from playing at altitude, but has actually hit more home runs on the road in 2013 than he has at Coors Field. Gonzalez leads the National League in homers, making him perhaps his league’s best contender for the title.
Michael Cuddyer: Cuddyer’s riding a 27-game hitting streak, and Wright told SportsCenter he was “going with the hot hand.” Like Gonzalez, Cuddyer benefits from playing his home games in Denver, but the veteran righty bat is in the midst of the best season of his career.
Bryce Harper: Harper won the fan vote for the Home Run Derby, and David Wright gives the people what they want. Despite playing only 51 games to date due to injuries, Harper already has 13 home runs. And he’s Bryce Harper; he’s near certain to make it exciting.
American League
Robinson Cano: Cano won the 2011 Derby with his father pitching, but fell victim to boobirds and ineffectiveness last year when he exited early without a single home run. He has 20 through Sunday in 2013, but Citi Field’s right-field porch is markedly farther than the one at cozy Yankee Stadium.
Orioles slugger Chris Davis (left) (PHOTO: Patrick Semansky/AP Photo)
Chris Davis: Have you heard? Chris Davis has 33 home runs in 2013 and is on pace for 60. Though he plays his home games in a hitter’s park, Davis has the type of power to make him a favorite in any home-run competition.
Prince Fielder: Fielder’s a safe choice, having won the event in 2009 and 2012. He only has 15 home runs to date in 2013 — not many by his own lofty standards — but his big swing lends itself to impressive Derby displays.
?: Cano said he will wait until the All-Star rosters are finalized before he makes his final pick. Miguel Cabrera, Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Dunn follow Davis on the American League home run leaderboard.
