It's been eight years since the Tigers had a contestant in the Home Run Derby. Could Jonathan Schoop end the drought?
"I'd love to have him in there," A.J. Hinch said on MLB Network Radio Tuesday. "Unfortunately we've seen the Shohei Ohtani home run derby in real life facing the Angels for four games. But I love the event more and more."
MLB has filled half of the eight slots for this year's derby, where balls will be flying over the fence at Coors Field. Ohtani is in with his league-leading 28 bombs, four of which came against the Tigers earlier this month. So is defending champ Pete Alonso of the Mets, as well as Rockies SS Trevor Story and Orioles 1B Trey Mancini.
Aside from Ohtani, Schoop has more homers than all of them. He's got 15 on the season and 10 in the month of June, which is tied for third most in the majors. Sluggers like Aaron Judge, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. have already declined the derby invite, citing health concerns. Schoop could help fill the gap.
"I know there are some guys that are really battling with the decision. But the more we can market our players and get our athleticism out there and watch these guys launch balls at Coors Field, the better. So if they want Schoop in it, they have our number. Hopefully he's an All-Star and not just a Home Run Derby participant, but I'm all in for Jonathan," said Hinch.
An All-Star nod would be Schoop's second, having earned the honor in 2017 with the Orioles. The Derby invite would be his first, and the first for the Tigers since Prince Fielder in 2013.
