Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Young To Take His Swings in Home Run Derby Tonight
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One of them is D-Backs centerfielder Chris Young, who is making his first All-Star appearance.
Surprisingly, Young isn't even the long-ball leader on his own team. That belongs to strikeout king Mark Reynolds.
It's been quite a year for Young, who last season was only hitting .196 at the All-Star break. Now the D-Backs most consistent player this season has tied his career-high with 15 home runs and is hitting .266.
Young will join Matt Holliday, Corey Hart and Hanley Ramirez for the National League.
For the American League, Miguel Cabrera, David Ortiz, Nick Swisher and Vernon Wells will take their hacks.
Just like Young, Toronto's Wells isn't the home-run leader on his own team. Either is Swisher or Holliday or Ramirez.
This is just more evidence that the long ball doesn't guarantee a player entrance to the Midsummer Classic. Reynolds is a perfect example of that.
Meanwhile, Ortiz, Hart, and Cabrera lead their teams in homers.
The jitters will probably be aplenty for Young, Hart, Ramirez, Swisher, and Wells, all of whom will be competing for the first time in the home run derby.
Since these competitions are always a crapshoot, picking a winner's tough.
While all of these players can put the ball out of the park (especially when they're essentially taking batting practice), fatigue always seems to play a factor as the rounds go on.
We're not saying Young is going to win the whole enchilada, but if he makes it out of the first round and finds a groove...it could be his night.
And even though the Snakes are all but out of playoff contention, hopefully the derby doesn't mess up Young's swing and the successful offensive season he's had so far.
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