It isn’t often that there is a Royals player who is even in the Home Run Derby conversation, let alone deserving of it. For starters, Kansas City hasn’t historically produced home run hitters. It took the Royals 50 seasons to see a 40-home run campaign.
But there’s also the marketability question. Billy Butler was considered in 2012 and while the “Boo Cano” movement was amazing and a truly fond memory, it wouldn’t have been necessary had the All-Star Game not been in Kansas City.
The reason Billy was considered was that he was the hometown All-Star.