Abreu Not Interested In Home Run Derby
(CBS) White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu is third in the major leagues in homers with 22, but he has no desire to participate in the home run derby because he doesn't want it to affect his approach, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
"Home Run Derby is not something I'm too crazy about,'' Abreu told the Sun-Times on Tuesday through a translator. ''It's a good thing, but I'm not really interested or looking forward to. I really wouldn't want to do it. I did it in Cuba several times, and I wasn't much into it.'
''The first thing it does is affect you mentally. You go out and try to hit home runs. I'm not a guy who tries to hit home runs. I let them come whenever they come. And sometimes it messes with your mechanics.''
The Rockies' Troy Tulowitzki and the Blue Jays' Jose Bautista have been named captains for the Home Run Derby, and each will choose three other players to represent his respective league.
Edwin Encarnacion leads the majors with 24 homers, and Nelson Cruz is second with 23.
The All-Star Game is July 15 in Minneapolis.