Report: MLB has discussed separate home run contest for pitchers
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Major League Baseball has discussed creating a separate event to allow pitchers to compete in a home run hitting contest, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports.
During Sunday night’s Dodgers–Giants game, which bookended a week filled with pitchers expressing interest in the annual Home Run Derby, Olney said that the league is looking into making that happen.
“There’s actually been talk about the idea of a pitcher challenge-type Home Run Derby,” he said, “where maybe that Madison Bumgarner faces Noah Syndergaard of the Mets.”
At the beginning of the week, Giants southpaw Madison Bumgarner said that he wanted in on the Derby, which was followed Mets righty Noah Syndergaard endorsing a pitchers’ contest, and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta attempting to put his hat in the ring.
In his report, Olney said that the Giants may allow Bumgarner to compete, but that they wouldn’t want him going multiple rounds. Bumgarner also jokingly promised manager Bruce Bochy the car he might get for winning the contest.
The 2016 Home Run Derby will be held on July 11 at Petco Park in San Diego.
– Kenny Ducey
