San Francisco Giants: Madison Bumgarner's Home Run Derby Candidacy

San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner wants a chance to show off his home run skills at Petco Park next month in a little competition called the Home Run Derby.

Madison Bumgarner has made his presence known as one of the best hitting pitchers in the National League. In his last 190 plate appearances he has hit 11 home runs, which is the same amount as Harper and Trout in each of their last 190 plate appearances. Bumgarner has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last few years, but has been overshadowed by the incredible performances from Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Jake Arrieta in recent years. One thing that Bumgarner definitely does better than most pitchers is hit the ball.

In 2016 Bumgarner has already hit 2 home runs and has 3 total extra base hits in only 35 plate appearances. He and Noah Syndergaard are the only two pitchers with at least two home runs this season, and both of Syndergaard’s came in the same game. Two is the same number of Silver Sluggers Bumgarner has, and also how many times he has taken Kershaw deep.

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Not only is Bumgarner recognized for the power he displays at the plate during game play, but his teammates and others who watch laud him for how hard he hits the ball in batting practice. He likes to take swings everyday, even when he’s not hitting, with the rest of the team. During his batting practice, he always puts in maximum effort and swings incredibly hard.

On Sunday in St. Louis he was taking batting practice and sent a few balls into the upper parts of the outfield seats that don’t often see balls headed their way. St. Louis has sectioned off a seating area in the upper deck of the outfield named “Big Mac Land,” which represents where the great slugger Mark McGuire pulled many of his long, towering home runs. Bumgarner hit multiple to that section and another to the section above during one set of batting practice, leaving almost no doubt about his ability to hit for power, especially in a batting practice setting.

I want to be in it. I’m going to be in it. – Madison Bumgarner

Because of the towering shots he hits in games and batting practice, many reporters have asked him about his power. This year the story has become whether or not he will participate in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby, which he has expressed interest in. When ESPN visited Busch Stadium for Sunday Night Baseball between the Giants and Cardinals, Buster Olney got a chance to talk to both Bumgarner and Bochy about the possibility of Bumgarner participating in the Home Run Derby.

Earlier in the season Bochy sided with Bumgarner and said that he could compete with the other hitters participating in the derby, but he has since changed his view. When he talked to Olney he made it clear that his previous comments were in a joking manner, and he probably couldn’t let Bumgarner participate.

No, to be serious, I couldn’t let him do it. We couldn’t let him do it. And Bum, he’s convinced he could win it. I think he’d wear himself out in the first round, he’d try to hit it so hard. – Bruce Bochy

Certainly the possibility of injury is concerning for the team, just as it is for any team with a player invited to the derby. The concern is even greater when sending a pitcher, who typically wouldn’t hit the ball hard every day into a competition like that. However, it is important to note that Bumgarner does take batting practice daily. When he takes batting practice, he swings as hard as he can just as he would in the Home Run Derby. Could he use this as his argument for being allowed to enter the derby? It’s sound reasoning, but in the end the Giants would probably have to veto the decision even if Bumgarner was invited.

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The likelihood of the Giants saying no to Bumgarner shouldn’t keep fans and players from hoping and thinking about it though. Baseball is supposed to be fun after all. Even players from rival teams like Joc Pederson of the Dodgers want to see Bumgarner in the derby.

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Bumgarner has said that he won’t quit on convincing those in charge that he should participate, so neither should fans. It would make one of the most exciting and watchable parts of the All-Star weekend even more enticing and interesting. The idea of a pitcher winning the derby is unfathomable, but if Bumgarner gets in he’s got a good shot at it.

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