5 reasons Madison Bumgarner should participate in the Home Run Derby

5. Modern Day Babe Ruth

Bumgarner is putting up Ruthian numbers the past few years, or at least the Babe Ruth who pitched for the Boston Red Sox.  In fact, Ruth’s best years at the plate as a pitcher were between 1915-1917, when he hit nine home runs in 451 at-bats.  Three years later, Ruth would blast 54 home runs in his first season with the New York Yankees, signaling the end of the Dead Ball Era.

In contrast, Bumgarner’s best stretch also was nine home runs, though he did it in one less season.  During the 2014 and 2015 seasons, he hit his nine homers in only 143 at-bats, while earning two Silver Slugger Awards along the way.  In 2014, Bumgarner blasted two Grand Slams, which is a Major League record for a pitcher.

This season, Bumgarner already has two home runs in his first 32 at-bats, including a solo shot against Cy Young Award Winner Clayton Kershaw in April.  It was the second time in two seasons that he has homered against the rival lefty.

Obviously, Bumgarner is not going to become an outfielder that changes the way the game is played the way Ruth did.  However, a sample set is a sample set, and he is the best home run hitting pitcher since The Bambino.  Who knows what Ruth would have done in a Home Run Derby back in his era, but the odds are, he would have won it.

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