Dodgers News: All-Star Mookie Betts Confirms He’ll Participate in Home Run Derby
Just moments after being selected to his seventh All-Star Game, Mookie Betts confirmed that he will participate in this year’s Home Run Derby.
Betts will be participating in the annual event for the first time in his career, and will be the fifth Dodger to participate since the format changed to head-to-head matches.
The Dodgers outfielder said that taking part in the Home Run Derby was a bucket list item for him and his family. He did, however, need a little motivation from his wife to actually do it.
“She said, ‘You got to do it.’ (It is) the last thing I haven’t done, so I’m gonna do it. Have fun with it, and we’ll see what happens,” Betts said.
Via SportsNet LA
“The goal now is not to come in last.” Mookie Betts confirms he’s participating in the Home Run Derby after being selected as an All-Star today. pic.twitter.com/IaX0dmZ0kh
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 29, 2023
Mookie is looking to become the first Dodger to win the derby. Joc Pederson came the closest to winning when he lost to Todd Frazier in the finals of the 2015 derby.
While Betts is doing the Home Run Derby for fun, he is going into it with one goal: Don’t be last.
“When I told my mom she wasn’t too thrilled. She told me I didn’t raise you to come in last. So the goal now is not to come in last,” said Betts. “I don’t think she’s a huge fan of seeing her son lose.”
Via SportsNet LA
The other participants that Betts is going against are all derby veterans. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. confirmed that he will compete. When he was a rookie, Guerrero lost in the finals.
With the derby being in Seattle, Julio Rodriguez has also said that he will compete in front of the home fans. At Dodger Stadium last year, Rodriguez also made it to the finals but ultimately came in second.
Despite being one of the smallest participants in the derby’s history, Betts is coming into the competition with some serious power stats this season.
Going into Thursday night’s game against Colorado, Betts has the sixth most home runs in the league with 20.
Fans who want to catch the Dodgers star outfielder in the Home Run Derby can tune into ESPN on Monday, July 10 at 5 p.m.
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Check your work! As I look at the calendar, I see the second Sunday of the month of July is the 9th. Your article indicates the HR derby is scheduled for that day at 5PM. That contradicts scheduled programming for ESPN that date. Please publish the correct date and time for HR derby. Thanks!