The San Diego Padres added Manny Machado to be their franchise star in the offseason, but he won’t be the one representing the Padres in Cleveland. See who should:
San Diego Padres IF Manny Machado has gotten off to a slow start in the first half of his first season in America’s Finest City, but one of his teammates has stepped up and is in the conversation to get to their first All-Star games (next page).
They have two outfielders who have a very good chance of mashing home runs in the Home Run Derby. On Wednesday, they became the first pair of teammates in Padres franchise history to hit at least 20 home runs before the All-Star Break.
Home Run Derby Candidates
Franmil Reyes (OF)
Franmil Reyes is having a breakout season in his second year with the San Diego Padres. After a long stretch without a homer, Reyes hit one to right-center field, propelling San Diego to a series sweep over the Milwaukee Brewers.
He has tallied 20 home runs with 33 RBI and a .846 OPS.
Franmil might have one of the best personalities in the game and he pairs it with great power to all fields. I think fans would get a kick out of him hitting homers in Cleveland.
Hunter Renfroe (OF)
Hunter Renfroe is having an even better than his teammate. He has 23 home runs with almost double the RBI in addition to having a .634 slugging percentage.
He might not have as much power to the opposite field as Reyes, but he has a whole lot of it to left field.
Renfroe has hit homers above the Western Metal Supply Co. building at Petco Park twice. He is the only player to ever hit it there during a game, and he has already done it twice.
This season he has done more damage as a pinch-hitter. The best game of the Padres 2019 season was on May 5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at home.
Against Kenley Jansen with the bases loaded, Renfroe unloaded on a fastball, sending it to the third deck of the Western Metal building which sent Petco Park into a frenzy.
I would not doubt Hunter Renfroe being able to hit homers to the top of the grandstands in left field.
I think Renfroe would have a better chance to win over Franmil because his swing seems to require less energy than Franmil’s.
Here is the San Diego Padres surefire candidate to make the All-Star Game.