A derby environment, he added, “would make things a little different.”Ĭrawford’s focus isn’t on going deep. No time limit,” said Crawford, reflecting on a typical round of pregame BP. Unless we count the final round of batting practice when sometimes the group of hitters will compete, with five swings, to see who can clear the wall the most times. And with 10 of the majors’ top 15 home run hitters in the American League - including Oakland’s Matt Olson, an obvious choice for the derby - it could be one-sided again.Ĭrawford has never partaken in a derby. In 2018, seven participants were National Leaguers. It’s not a necessity for MLB to choose four hitters from each league. Like in other years, others probably will decline as well. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Tatis and Schwarber, who rank second, third and fourth, respectively, behind Ohtani, all said they’ll take a pass. “But participating in a Home Run Derby would be a little different than anything I’ve done before.”Įight hitters will compete in the derby, and four spots remain. But there are few times if any that I’ve gone up there thinking, ‘All right, I’m going to hit this out.’ It just kind of happens with good swings and good contact that occasionally they’re going to leave the park. “It’s been nice, for sure, to see more go over the fence. “I don’t think it’s necessarily in my game to try to hit home runs,” Crawford said.
2021 HOME RUN DERBY PARTICIPANTS SERIES
He might be known more for three Gold Gloves and one Silver Slugger, not to mention two World Series rings, than for ranking among the leaders in home runs. The year he hit a career-high 21 homers, in 2015, he averaged one per 24.1 at-bats.Ĭrawford might not be a derby kind of guy. In fact, his homer-to-at-bat ratio virtually is the same, 13.7 versus righties, 13.2 versus lefties. “But other than just joking around about it,” Crawford said, “I haven’t thought about it.”Ĭrawford is 34 and playing like he’s years younger, still a marvel at shortstop and a calming influence on the Giants’ overall defense, yet he’s also a legitimate power threat against both righties and lefties. The only other player who has committed is Shohei Ohtani, the majors’ homers leader (28). He’s out-homering three of the four contestants already determined for the July 12 contest in Denver: Trey Mancini (14), who hit 35 homers in 2019 and missed last season while battling stage 3 colon cancer Alonso (13), the defending champ and Trevor Story (9), the hometown guy. (22), Jesse Winker (19), Javier Baez (18) and Adam Duvall (18).Ĭrawford is tied for seventh with 17. (26), Kyle Schwarber (25), Ronald Acuna Jr. Through Wednesday’s games, the National League leaders were Fernando Tatis Jr. That’s how good Crawford has been in 2021. “I mean, I laugh because I joke around about it a little bit seeing the guys who are participating,” Crawford said, “because I have more homers than a few of them.” Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, he was asked about being a candidate, and he laughed. Who has more homers than everyone in the National League except for six men.Īt the very least, Crawford deserves consideration. Who is just four homers shy of his career high. The man who blasted a 444-foot home run at Dodger Stadium on Monday night.