The campaign to put Madison Bumgarner in this year’s Home Run Derby is gaining steam, and one potential obstacle — the Giants pitcher risking injury by participating — is not going to stop Bumgarner from participating. The ace told ESPN on Sunday he wants to participate in the derby, and now he is on the record saying he will not let fears of injury stop him from competing in the contest.
The left-hander reminded those nervous about him risking his health that he once rode a horse onto the field at the start of last season as a part of the Giants’ World Series celebration.
“I mean, they had me ride a horse on the field, so if they trust me with something like that with 40-some-thousand people going crazy and I can’t do baseball activities, that’s a little bit different,” Bumgarner told reporters. “We’ll talk about it for sure. I’m not trying to say that this is a done deal or anything like that.”
Bumgarner is pretty indestructible as far as baseball players go. He carried San Francisco to their last World Series win in 2014, pitching as often as humanly possible without a dip in performance. Then, after many predicted the massive innings count he racked up would wear on the lefty in 2015, he showed no signs of slippage on his way to another stellar campaign.
Any other pitcher participating in the Derby might raise some concerns, but Bumgarner is not just any pitcher.
He still needs to secure an invite to the competition, but it would be foolish on MLB’s part to not include him. A pitcher competing against some of the best sluggers in the world would make for fascinating television, especially for a typically boring event.
However, Bumgarner’s participation is more than just a novelty act. He is a fantastic pitcher, but the 6-5, 250 lb. lefty is quite formidable with a bat in his hand, too.
Bumgarner has the most career home runs of any active pitcher with 13, and only two pitchers have hit more home runs in their career since 1969. 13 may not sound like a lot but when you account for his limited plate appearances, his proclivity for hitting dingers really shines through.
Yes, it’s true.
We can’t believe it either. (h/t @theaceofspaeder) pic.twitter.com/0twG75CDiE
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) June 2, 2016
He has also been putting on a show in his recent batting practices, according to ESPN.
Bumgarner, who bats right-handed and has 13 career home runs, has made Giants batting practice a must-watch affair, even hitting a ball into the upper deck at Busch Stadium on Sunday. He said Tuesday that he believes he would do well in the Derby but left himself some wiggle room.
When it comes down to it, the Home Run Derby is a meaningless competition, so why not have a little fun with it? As long as Bumgarner is down to participate, MLB needs to let him.
[ESPN]
