National League Stacked In 2009 Home Run Derby

Sports Betting News - July 7th, 2009 - Written by Bruce

The four National League players in this years Home Run Derby were announced on Monday and boy are they stacked. All of them are big hitting first baseman and they should put on quite a show when the derby takes place in St. Louis next week. Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez, and Philadelphia's Ryan Howard all join the hometown favorite Albert Pujols as the four NL Derby participants. This is an exciting group of sluggers who are likely to give the St. Louis crowd a great show. All of them are in the top ten in the Majors in Home Runs. Ryan Howard is ninth the league with 20 HRs and is two behind Prince Fielder who is tied for fifth with 22. Adrian Gonzalez is tied for second with 24 HRs all well behind the big slugging Pujols. The Cardinal's first baseman is well ahead of the others with a remarkable 31 HRs in the first half of the season.

The only one of the four participants to win the Home Run Derby is Ryan Howard who won it in 2006 at Pittsburgh's PNC Park. Last year Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton put on quite a show in the derby which was held at Yankee Stadium. He set a Home Run Derby record when he blasted a remarkable 28 first round homers. His performance will be remembered for a long time, but ultimately he lost in the finals to Minnesota's Justin Morneau. In 2007 the Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero won the event which was held at AT&T Park in San Francisco. The year before Howard won it Bobby Abreau took the title as the 2005 Home Run Derby winner which was held at Comerica Park in Detroit. Before Hamilton's ridiculous 28 first round homers in 2008, Abreau held the record when he blasted 24 in the first round at the 2005 derby.

With the AL participants yet to be announced it will be tough to find four sluggers who can match this big hitting NL group. The national audience will get a chance to see Adrian Gonzalez on a big stage as he is not given the recognition he deserves coming being from the small market West Coast team in San Diego. Prince Fielder will hit some mammoth shots as his powerful swing sets up perfect for this event. At 6'4 260 lbs Ryan Howard will likely be the strongest competitor and will attempt to win the event for a second time. There is no doubt though who the home crowd will be rooting for. Albert Pujols is having a monster year and with his lead leading 31 HRs he is likely the favorite going into this years Home Run Derby.