Announced as the lone Oakland A’s All-Star on Sunday, Matt Olson announced that he will also participate in the Home Run Derby at Coors Field in Denver.
Despite not hitting a home run since June 20, Olson ranks tied for ninth with Texas Rangers’ Adolis Garcia and Kansas City’s Salvador Perez in baseball and sixth in the American League with 20 home runs.
Olson will be the first Athletic to participate in the Derby since Matt Chapman did it in 2019 as a replacement for Milwaukee Brewers MVP Christian Yelich. Yoenis Cespedes is the last A’s last Home Run Derby winner, claiming the title in back-to-back appearances in 2013 and 2014. Former A’s third baseman Josh Donaldson participated in the Derby in 2014, coming in seventh place.
“When you see guys get on a roll, it seems like they just keep getting one after the other,” manager Bob Melvin said. “I’ve seen Oly do that plenty of times. I think he’s going to have the right batting practice pitcher there and will have a lot of time doing it and I know he’s going to have a lot of fun doing it. He’s the type of guy when the lights shine brighter, he’s able to step up similar to what we’re talking about with Yoenis.”
Olson has not yet made known who will throw to him at the Derby. Olson did not need to ask the team for permission to participate in the Derby. He won’t change anything about his swing to compete, Melvin said. With Olson’s sweet swing ripping baseballs through Colorado’s mile-high thin air, Melvin expects the A’s first baseman to show out.
“In Colorado, all you have to do is touch a barrel and it’ll go out,” Melvin said. “We’re not worried about ramifications of that, we think it’s great he’s getting the exposure he deserves.”
Olson will be competing with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who has a whopping 31 home runs this season. The 2019 Derby winner — Pete Alonso of the New York Mets — will also compete. Royals catcher Perez will compete as well. Other participants are Baltimore’s Trey Mancini with 15 home runs and home team star Trevor Story with 11. With sluggers Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27), Aaron Judge (19) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (27) opting out of the Derby, two spots remain open in the field.
“It’s a great venue for these power hitters. Now with launch angles and exit velocities, that’s going to be paid attention to during this thing, too. It’ll be an exciting event and I know Matt’s excited to be part of it.”
