DENVER – The field for the 2017 Home Run Derby was announced Monday, and nary a Cincinnati Reds player was in it. The Reds have had a participant each of the last two years, and currently have three players with at least 19 home runs.
First baseman Joey Votto was asked to participate, but declined over concerns of injuring himself and messing with his finely-tuned swing. Neither Adam Duvall, a participant last year, nor Scott Schebler was asked.
That’s just fine with Reds manager Bryan Price. Every year, a Derby participant craters in the second half of the season, and questions arise about whether the long ball competition had anything to do with it.