6. Yoenis Cespedes
I’m not sure there’s an active player more perfectly suited for the derby than Cespedes. He’s a tremendously powerful hitter for certain. He’s also prone to intense streaks, which is when he can drive balls all over the field with incredible strength.
So far, Cespedes is 2-for-2 in Home Run Derbys. He has participated in two, the 2013 and 2014 derbies, and he’s won both of them, defeating Bryce Harper in 2013 and Jose Bautista in 2014.
After his huge display of power after being traded to the Mets last year at the trade deadline, he will almost certainly be invited back again this season, making him one of a very select group of players who has participated in the Home Run Derby as a member of both a National and American League team.
5. Mark McGwire
He’s perhaps fallen out of favor for his performance on a national level due to the steroid allegations from his playing career. That’s perhaps why a guy who was a 12-time All-Star, led the league in home runs four times and famously broke Roger Maris‘ single-season home run record in a famous home run race in 1998 has yet to garner 25 percent in a single season of the 10 years he was on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot.
McGwire hit 583 home runs in his career, including seasons of 70, 65, 58, 52, and 49 in his career. He was a well-regarded power hitter, which made him a prime candidate for the derby and he definitely was a big performer when he participated.
McGwire participated in the Home Run Derby in 1987, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, and he won in 1992. He actually hit the most home runs in 1999 and the fact that he didn’t win led to a change in the format of how they play the derby, attempting to enable the hitter with the most home runs to at least have a better chance to make the finals. The rules have since been changed again to a match play system.
Next: 4th and 3rd Seeds