Giancarlo Stanton is set to take part in his first ever Home Run Derby on Monday and he is also the favorite to win the event per USA Today.
Stanton is currently tied for the National League lead in home runs with 21. Troy Tulowtzki of the Colorado Rockies is the man he is tied with and is one of the players he'll compete against in the contest. Tulowitzki is the captain of the NL squad and selected Stanton to join him.
The Miami Marlins' slugger is known as one of the most prolific home run hitters in all of Major League Baseball and likely would've been part of the festivities in a previous year if not for injuries.
In addition to Stanton and Tulowtzki, the list of players competing includes Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Bautista, Yasiel Puig, Josh Donaldson, Adam Jones, Brian Dozier, Todd Frazier and Justin Morneau.
The Home Run Derby had its format tweaked this year after some of the events had run long in years past. Instead of ten outs, each participant will be allotted only seven swings that do not produce a home run. In addition, the top hitter from each league in round one will be given a bye of sorts and skip right to round three.
Stanton will be the fourth Marlin to take part in the Home Run Derby. In 2010, Hanley Ramirez finished as the runner-up after hitting 26 home runs. Dan Uggla entered the contest in 2008 but finished with only eight blasts. The first Marlins' player to participate was Miguel Cabrera in 2006 and he finished with 15 home runs.
The 2014 Home Run Derby will take place on July 14th.
