It sounds like Madison Bumgarner might have started a revolution.
The San Francisco Giants ace, whose 13 career home runs lead all active pitchers, recently expressed his desire to participate in this year’s Home Run Derby. And even though his manager, Bruce Bochy, said that’s not going to happen, a few other pitchers have warmed up to the idea of joining, too.
After Bumgarner stepped up to the plate, Chicago Cubs starter Jake Arrieta told MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat he thinks there should be another Home Run Derby for pitchers.
“We both love to hit,” Arrieta said of Bumgarner. “You talk to a lot of people who don’t like pitchers to hit, but we love it. We take it really seriously. We’re in the cage hitting, we’re actually trying to work on things. We have the ability to help ourselves out. I’m not going up there trying to make an out.”
St. Louis Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright hopped on board on Twitter shortly after, and now, Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez wants a place in the lineup, too.
“I want in for sure,” Fernandez told the Miami Herald’s Clark Spencer on Sunday. “Oh my God, it would be amazing.”
Fernandez also thinks a home run battle among pitchers would be a popular addition to the All-Star week festivities.
“We should do our own Home Run Derby,” Fernandez said. “I think it would be very fun for baseball. I think the fans would love to see that.”
While it looks as though it wouldn’t be touch to find pitchers to participate, their managers might not be too keen on the idea. But there’s no denying a pitchers-only Home Run Derby would be incredibly fun.
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
