After earning his second MLB All-Star Game nod this year, Byron Buxton is looking to leave All-Star Weekend with some hardware.
The Minnesota Twins star announced Monday that he has declared for the Home Run Derby.
Buxton will join the Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr., Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh and Washington Nationals’ James Wood.
Buxton’s Home Run Derby appearance comes during what has been one of the best seasons of his career. The 31-year-old has 20 home runs, 53 RBI and a .270 batting average. He’s on pace to shatter his previous career highs in homers and RBI.
Buxton has the fifth-most home runs in the American League and is tied for the 12th-most in the majors.
To win his first Home Run Derby, Buxton will have to get past some serious competition.
Acuña made his season debut in late May and has been on a tear ever since, hitting nine homers in his first 40 games. He’ll also have home-field advantage since All-Star Weekend will be held in Atlanta.
At just 22 years old, Wood is having a breakout season with 23 home runs and 67 RBI so far. He even got the Barry Bonds treatment last month, drawing four intentional walks in one game against the Los Angeles Angels. Wood will look to make his second year in the majors even better with a win in the Home Run Derby.
Perhaps the most exciting of this year’s participants, Raleigh is having a phenomenal season and hitting better than any catcher in recent memory. He already has a new career high in home runs with 35 and is on pace for a career high in RBI with 74. He leads the majors in home runs and has the most homers ever by a catcher before the All-Star break.
It’s safe to say the “Big Dumper” will be coming for the Home Run Derby crown.
