BALTIMORE (AP) — This year's Home Run Derby now has a hometown favorite: Seattle's Julio Rodríguez is in.
Rodríguez, who finished second last year in the event to Juan Soto, said Friday it's a no-brainer to participate in front of his home fans. The All-Star game is July 11 in Seattle, with the Home Run Derby the previous day.
“This probably will never happen again in my career — being able to do that for them at the home field definitely will be something that I'm looking forward to,” Rodríguez said before Friday night's game at Baltimore.