Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker and New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. were the final two players added to the field of the Home Run Derby on Thursday.
Chisholm’s inclusion in Monday’s derby in Atlanta was announced Thursday evening during the Yankees’ game against the Seattle Mariners, rounding out the field after Rooker agreed to join the contest earlier in the day.
Rooker, who was named to the American League All-Star roster as a reserve Sunday, has 19 home runs and 50 RBIs through 94 games after hitting 39 home runs last season and 30 in 2023.
Chisholm, in his first full season in New York, hit 17 homers over his first 61 games entering Thursday, including seven dingers since June 25 and two on Wednesday. He is the first Yankee to compete in a Derby since Aaron Judge won the 2017 edition and teammate Gary Sanchez also participated.
Other confirmed participants include Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays), Oneil Cruz (Pittsburgh Pirates), Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta Braves), Cal Raleigh (Mariners), James Wood (Washington Nationals) and Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins).
Among the players to turn down an invite to the eight-player field are two-time champion Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies and 2024 runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals.
Defending champion Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers recently turned down a spot as a consideration to nagging injuries.
–Field Level Media
