Trout: MLB asks about HR Derby ‘yearly’
ANAHEIM, Calif. — No, Mike Trout won’t be taking part on this yr’s House Run Derby. Sure, Main League Baseball retains attempting.
“Yearly,” Trout stated. “Yearly they ask me.”
Trout, an All-Star starter for the seventh consecutive yr after main the game in fan votes, has at all times declined to participate within the occasion. However he has by no means dominated out the opportunity of sometime altering his thoughts, even now.
“Perhaps one yr I am going to say to myself, ‘Hey, let’s do it,'” Trout stated. “I am clearly a giant fan of watching it. It is simply what it’s. I loved watching it as a child, thought it was cool. I simply by no means actually needed to do it.”
The House Run Derby will transfer from Cleveland to Southern California subsequent yr, when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the All-Star Sport, maybe growing the likelihood that Trout takes half.
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It is not simply MLB or the media that pesters Trout in regards to the Derby. It is mates again house, followers in visiting highway cities, even teammates. The Los Angeles Angels’ star heart fielder took half in a house run derby his senior yr of highschool, successful the occasion whereas batting left-handed, and did one other as a 17-year-old taking part in A ball.
As a giant leaguer, Trout prefers to maximise time along with his household through the All-Star break. The workload can be a priority.
“It is a lengthy, lengthy night time,” Trout stated. “Loads of swings.”
Trout watched Albert Pujols compete within the House Run Derby in 2015, almost beating Todd Frazier within the last spherical. And there is a likelihood — slim, it appears — that he would possibly watch one other teammate in Shohei Ohtani compete this yr.
Ohtani has expressed curiosity in participating, however he may not be named an All-Star, and there are issues stemming from his ongoing restoration from Tommy John surgical procedure.
“I believe he would most likely win,” Trout stated. “He is acquired a few of the greatest energy within the league. Clearly this yr it would be totally different as a result of he simply got here off Tommy John. I imply I would like him to do it, I am positive he desires to do it. I do not know if our trainers would love that. You are coming off Tommy John and going up there taking full hacks. Will it have an effect on his swing? Will it have an effect on his arm? Most likely not. However we’d like him again throwing 105.”