5 reasons Madison Bumgarner should participate in the Home Run Derby

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – APRIL 11: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants hits a grand slam home run off of Jorge De La Rosa #29 of the Colorado Rockies (not pictured) during the fourth inning at AT&T Park on April 11, 2014 in San Francisco, California. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Colorado Rockies 6-5. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

2. Light Tower Power

Bumgarner has Light Tower Power, and that was on full display this past week. During batting practice before the Giants took on the St. Louis Cardinals, the slugging pitcher blasted more than a dozen balls over the left field fence, with two of those reaching the third beck. That was an area that was frequented by Mark McGwire during his huge home run seasons in St. Louis, as he continuously planted balls above the “Big Mac Land” sign.

To cap off his explosion, Bumgarner crushed a ball into the fourth deck, which has only happened one time before according to the groundskeepers. ESPN Senior Writer Buster Olney reported that the groundskeepers that work at Busch Stadium told him the only other player they have ever seen hit one up there was Nelson Cruz, and that was way back in 2009 when the Cardinals hosted the Home Run Derby as part of All-Star Week.

Bumgarner could always hit. In his senior year of high school, he batted .424, smacking 11 home runs. He is a big, strong farm boy from Hickory, North Carolina, and possesses the kind of power that most scouts drool over. He mashes batting practice fastballs, which is all he would see in a Home Run Derby.

Next: No. 1 He Wants To Be In It

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