Chicago Cubs

Baez, Schwarber to Swing for Fences in Home Run Derby: Report

Neither player has ever participated in the annual event

For the second time in the last four years, the Chicago Cubs will have not one but two stars participating in the Home Run Derby, according to a report. 

According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs infielder Javier Baez and outfielder Kyle Schwarber will both go for the gold in the annual event, which brings together eight of the top sluggers in baseball. 

"It'll be fun, especially with Javy in there too," Schwarber told media in San Francisco on Tuesday. "I know what kind of BP that guy takes." 

According to statistics, it could be a dead heat between the sluggers. Schwarber has hit 17 home runs and driven in 39 RBI this season, while Baez has 17 home runs and a staggering 65 RBI. 

The last time a Cubs player participated in the derby was in 2015, when Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo both hit in Cincinnati. Sammy Sosa was the last Cubs player to win the derby, taking home the title in 2000, and Cubs greats Ryne Sandberg (who won at Wrigley Field in 1990) and Andre Dawson have also won the annual event. 

The full eight-player field will be announced Wednesday night on ESPN. 

Contact Us