There won’t be a repeat Home Run Derby champion in two weeks at Truist Park in Atlanta. Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández said Friday he won’t take part in the event hit year, after winning it last season, the only Dodgers player win the event.
Hernández told this to David Vassegh, who also mentioned it on the SportsNet LA broadcast of the Dodgers’ win over the Royals on Friday night in Kansas City. Hernández told Vassegh last year’s event was taxing, and given that Hernández already missed 12 games with a left groin strain this season, he won’t defend his title.
So far, Ronald Acuña Jr. of the hometown Braves and major league home run leader Cal Raleigh of the Mariners are confirmed participants in the Home Run Derby, which will be held on Monday, July 14 in Atlanta.
Hernández is one of seven Dodgers finalists who could potentially start for the National League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15, with the second round of fan voting to run from Monday to Wednesday. That’s aside from Shohei Ohtani, who already secured the starting designated hitter spot by gaining the most votes in among all NL players.
Per the collective bargaining agreement, any player who led his position in the first round of fan voting gets a $15,000 bonus, as do the top three outfielders in each league. That means a $15,000 bonus for Ohtani, Hernández, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman. Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and Tommy Edman get $5,000 for finishing in second at their position.
Freeman saved the final out of Friday’s game, scooping out a low throw by Betts at first base to prevent the tying run from scoring. Both are in slumps this month, with Freeman hitting just .174/.248/.217 and Betts at .261/.327/.359 during June. Freeman has gone a whopping 176 plate appearances and over 41 games since his last home run, on June 11, the longest power drought of his career.
Jack Harris talked to both players and others regarding the slump for the Los Angeles Times. “I’ve gone through every cue 16 times over again in the last six weeks,” Freeman said of his swing. “So just waiting for it to click.”