5 reasons Madison Bumgarner should participate in the Home Run Derby
By Brad Weiss
![Aug 21, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) hits a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Aug 21, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (40) hits a two run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7f4e72b62e7d53fbd36f6416c0b4508967152c759ec65e51681e1eb4477c5622.jpg)
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