Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby no longer might be solely a slugger’s domain. Pitchers also want in on the action.
Tony Clark, executive director of the players’ union, told ESPN.com on Monday that the players and the MLB are in talks over including pitchers in future Home Run Derbies — not in a ball-throwing capacity but to swing away themselves.
Clark said pitchers might have been in this year’s event, which Giancarlo Stanton won Monday, but the sides ran out of time to work out the details.
“We were willing to have that conversation, which is what we had,” Clark said. “But again, as you get closer to the event itself, it becomes remarkably difficult to make tweaks and adjustments to protocol.”
Some speculated that widespread opposition from hitters prevented the inclusion of pitchers in this year’s derby. Clark refuted the idea, claiming the prospect of uninviting some hitters was the main holdup.
The talks took place amid rising interest from the likes of Madison Bumgarner, Jake Arrieta and perhaps other pitchers.
“I don’t know that I wanted to be in it more than anybody else,” Bumgarner said. “I was just asked if I was interested. And I said yes. Of course. It’s the Home Run Derby.”
Clark also indicated holding a separate Home Run Derby for pitchers is another idea under consideration.
Like the Bad News Bears, “let them play.” Or at least, let them hit.
Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images
