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Yankees, Red Sox’s AL East rival star makes MLB Home Run Derby decision
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According to Junior Caminero himself on Instagram, the Tampa Bay Rays slugger is the first participant to confirm for the 2026 Home Run Derby .
Caminero will be the starting third baseman in the American League this season. The slugger is one of the best power hitters in the sport and is just 22 years of age. There is no doubt that he will be a force to reckon with for a long time. For this Home Run Derby, he could be the favorite to win, and it might not matter who else joins. We all know Aaron Judge won't be in it with his current injury, and Shohei Ohtani likely won't participate again. There aren't many names that would be a favorite over Caminero heading into the event. He has 22 moonshots on the season.
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With the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia this season, it is likely that either Kyle Schwarber or Bryce Harper will participate. Usually, at least one player from the host city participates. Either of them would have a lot of momentum as former participants of the event. Schwarber actually lost to Harper in 2018.
Schwarber leads the league with 30 home runs and is four ahead of the next guy. It makes sense that the lefty will be in it. Who else could join in 2026? Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman is second in home runs with 26. Yordan Alvarez is smashing balls in Houston , and rookies Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto are the best homerun-hitting rookies in the league so far. James Wood, Matt Olson , and Brandon Lowe are other southpaws who could join if asked, all with at least 20 homers this season.
Stay tuned as more participants will be announced in the coming days.
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