Teoscar Hernández is representing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby after campaigning for the opportunity last week.
It will be his first time participating in the event and it marks the second consecutive season that a Dodgers player is taking part in the Derby after Mookie Betts did it in 2023.
Hernández made the announcement Wednesday on ESPN, explaining that he was looking forward to the opportunity and winning the whole thing.
Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel is the person Hernández has charged with pitching him the ball and preparation will begin during the team’s series in Detroit.
For Hernández, taking part in the Home Run Derby is something that he has contemplated in the past, and watching how much other players enjoyed it was a big motivating factor, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California Newsgroup:
“I’m really excited,” Hernandez said after the game. “It was something in the past that I’ve wanted to do and finally I have the opportunity to do.
“I see the fun that the guys have and how they enjoy it and why not just go through the experience and try to win everything?”
With this being his first time in the Derby, Hernández is looking for anyway to gain an edge over the rest of the field. Luckily for him, he has one of MLB’s most prolific power hitters on his own team.
Shohei Ohtani’s 28 homers this season are second in MLB, and Hernández is hoping that he can pick his teammate’s brain for any tips:
“Obviously we just found out today so I’m going to ask him how to control everything and try to hit as many homers as I can,” Hernandez said.
Hernández might not be giving himself enough credit as he is no slouch when it comes to hitting home runs this season. He currently ranks fifth in the National League with 19 home runs and 15th in slugging percentage (.476).
Teoscar Hernández odds for Home Run Derby
Historically, this event has not been very kind to Dodgers sluggers as many have failed to make it out of the first round and only once has someone made it to the finals, Joc Pederson in 2015. Hernández’s inclusion will mark the 14th event featuring a Dodgers player, and he is the 11th player in the organization’s history to make an appearance.
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