Fansided

MLB Home Run Derby 2022: 3 players we wish were participating

By Noah Yingling

BOSTON, MA - JULY 8: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees warms up before a game against the Boston Red Sox on July 8, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JULY 8: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees warms up before a game against the Boston Red Sox on July 8, 2022 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees, Home Run Derby
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

2) New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge

When Aaron Judge is healthy, he’s arguably the best hitter in all of the major leagues. He won the 2017 Home Run Derby at Marlins Park in Miami but since then, Judge has decided to pass on each competition.

“Nope. No need, I already did it once,” Judge told The New York Post in June.

The 2022 All-Star has, arguably, been the AL MVP to this point in the season. In 88 games, he leads the major leagues with 33 home runs and 72 runs. He also has 69 RBI (second in the American League), a slash line of of .281/.360/.618, and he has an OPS+ of 175, which would be the best of his career so far.

His 4.1 rWAR is also fourth in the American League.

Judge is the best home run hitter in the sport this year so it’s really a shame that he won’t be participating but at least it’s because he decided that he didn’t want to participate and not because he was snubbed.

Home/MLB