Inside The Phillies

Who Should Represent Philadelphia Phillies at Home Run Derby?

The Philadelphia Phillies haven't had a player win the Home Run Derby since Ryan Howard did it in 2006.

Matthew Postins

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
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There’s a natural choice to represent the Philadelphia Phillies in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby next month in Seattle. The question is whether it’s actually a good idea.

MLB.com compiled a list of the best Home Run Derby candidate for each Major League team and the selection was Bryce Harper.

Yep, the same Harper who is just a month or so removed from returning from Tommy John surgery.

Even MLB.com acknowledges it might not be the best idea:

It’s a bad idea for Harper to do this after returning from Tommy John surgery earlier this season. But it would be his first time in the Derby since winning in 2018, and he’d bring down the house if he did.

Harper has hit just three home runs in his first 40 games since returning from the injury rehab for the surgery. He is batting .296 serving as the designated hitter.

Selecting Harper naturally overlooks the team’s actual home run leader, Kyle Schwarber, who once hit 55 home runs in a single Derby. That happened to be the 2018 Derby that Harper won.

Harper beat Schwarber, 19-18. Neither was a Phillie at the time.

Two Phillies have won the Derby before. In fact, they won in back-to-back years. Bobby Abreu won the Derby in 2005 in Detroit and then Ryan Howard won it in 2006 in Pittsburgh.

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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros for Sports Illustrated/FanNation. He also covers he Big 12 for Heartland College Sports.

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