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Has The Home Run Derby Lost Its Touch?


NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 08: Giancarlo Stanton #27 and Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the New York Mets 4-1 during a game at Citi Field on June 8, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)


By: Fabrizio Salerno
Twitter @fabriziosa1erno

The MLB All-Star Game is fast approaching, which means baseball fans can rejoice and enjoy the stars of the game playing at the highest level. MLB’s All Star Game, compared to the NBA All-Star Game and the NFL’s Pro Bowl,  is the most competitive. The players never take plays off and the matchups between pitchers and batters are an MLB fans' dream come true.

Besides the big game, the festivities leading up to it were what viewers always tuned-in to see, but it looks like the players aren’t willing to compete in these activities this year. The Home Run Derby is every kid's dream, seeing the game’s biggest and strongest stars smashing home runs 400+ feet over the fence into a roaring crowd. From the days of Josh Hamilton and Justin Morneau going at each other in the 2008 Home Run Derby at the old Yankees Stadium to today’s stars like Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, all past participants in the Home Run Derby left it all on the field.

But now it seems like MLB Stars are taking a step back and only focusing on the game ahead of them. News surfaced late Sunday night, per multiple sources, that two of the game’s premier home run hitters Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are both not entering the competition. Judge had a summer to forget last year post All-Star break after winning the derby. Plus, ruining the mission the Yankees have for this season wouldn't be best right now for himself or the organization.

Stanton will not compete in the Home Run Derby whether he is selected into the All-Star Game or not. It is not like he wasn't in it before, he's done his part and feels another rising star should get their shot and give the fans a show. Stanton is a finalist for the final vote to get into the All-Star Game. 

Bryce Harper, who initially wanted no part of the competition, needed the MLB to reach out to him to do it since Washington D.C. is the host city for this years All-Star Game. It does make sense that Harper is competing to represent his team and his city. Having the stigma that it effects the way a player approaches their at-bats after the competition may be true, but the MLB has to realize that not everybody wants to compete.

The MLB has made small changes to  progress this competition and keep the game moving in a direction that enhances it. Players have seemed more open to the new idea of a timed Derby, but the results are still the same. There is only so much you can do if the players you expect to compete are declining the invite. The MLB must do something else to get more stars to want to compete and not feel forced to do so.

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