The 2015 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby is on July 13th. The derby each year offers some of baseball’s best home run hitters and there’s always a great show behind it. Let’s take a look at 10 players that could make the derby well worth the viewing in our countdown.
#10 Carlos Gomez
Carlos Gomez has one of if not the hardest swings in all of Major League Baseball. When Gomez gets into one, there’s no doubt the ball is long gone. With the same pitch and the same speed being thrown at him in the derby, it could make for an amazing show.
#9 Albert Pujols
Pujols is 35 years of age, but he can still rake like the best in baseball. Pujols passed Mickey Mantle on the all-time home run list last night, so why not let him hit a ton in the derby? Pujols has also participated in the event before, so it would give baseball a familiar face.
#8 Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder is a two-time champion of the Home Run Derby, winning it in 2009 as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers and winning it in 2012 with the Tigers. With his bounce back season with the Rangers, it’s only fitting that Fielder gets a chance to win it with his 3rd Major League team.
#7 Mike Trout
Mike Trout is the definition of a five-tool baseball player. In his short Major League career, Trout has became baseball’s best player and one of the better home run hitters in the game. Putting him in the derby would be a great thing to market and get hype for.
#6 Miguel Cabrera
Just like Trout, Miguel Cabrera is one of the best players in Major League Baseball. While he is a four-tool player and not a five, Cabrera still hits home runs like the best of them, and is one of the most recognizable players in baseball.
#5 Nelson Cruz
Nelson Cruz’s suspension for performance enchaining drugs still hasn’t slowed down his home run hitting one bit. Cruz lead all of Major League Baseball in home runs last year and is leading the American League in home runs as of today. It’d be great to see him crushing home runs in the derby as well.
#4 Joc Pederson
Joc Pederson is Major League Baseball’s next big star. The 23-year-old Pederson is hitting .249 with 17 home runs and 33 runs batted in this season. Those 17 home runs have him tied for the 5th most in baseball, and tied for the 3rd most in the National League.
#3 Paul Goldschmidt
‘Goldy’ as Diamondback fans call him, has been great this year for them as the first baseman has a batting average of .349 with 17 home runs and 49 runs batted in. Getting Goldschmidt in the derby would be just as good as anyone else getting in.
#2 Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper has finally hit his stride, and it’s good to see. The 22-year-old star outfielder has 20 home runs this year, good for the second most in baseball and the second most in the National League. Harper was in the 2013 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, so why not give him a better chance at winning the 2015 one?
#1 Giancarlo Stanton
If this comes as a surprise to you, we question your baseball knowledge. Giancarlo Stanton is the best home run hitter in all of Major League Baseball. He currently leads the league in home runs with 22, and no one and I mean no one kills a ball and makes it cry more than Gincarlo Stanton.
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