When you think of Chris Young, you don't think of the type of power hitting brutes who normally compete in the Home Run Derby. But apparently Albert Pujols wasn't available so the league tapped the line-drive hitting Young for the honor.
"I'll certainly try to get backspin because that's where my power is, but just try to some balls I can elevate to left field," Young told the Arizona Republic. "By no means will you see me trying to go to center field, you won't see me trying to go right field."
Young might not be a power guy but his 15 bombs on the season rank right up there with his fellow competitors.
- Brewers' Corey Hart (.287, 20 homers, 63 RBIs)
- Cardinals' Matt Holliday (.303, 15 homers, 47 RBIs)
- Marlin's Hanley Ramirez (.292, 13 homers, 53 RBIs)
- Yankee's Nick Swisher (.304, 14 homers, 48 RBIs)
- Tiger's Miguel Cabrera (.346, 22 homers, 74 RBI)
- Red Sox David Ortiz (.262, 17 homers, 56 RBIs)
- Blue Jay's Vernon Wells (.269, 19 homers, 49 RBIs)
The D-backs need Chris Young to continue being a contact hitter, especially if his manager is going to keep him in the lead-off spot. Let's hope the Derby doesn't mess up that swing which has been known to happen in the past.