MIAMI _ Giancarlo Stanton will participate in the Home Run Derby next month.
Yes, that didn't become official until Sunday night, when the Miami Marlins' slugger and last year's Derby champ announced his commitment via ESPN, which will broadcast the competition July 10, and the team.
Contributing to the intrigue this year, Stanton will seek to defend his title at Marlins Park, which is hosting this year's All-Star festivities.
"Can't have a Home Run Derby without the home team being repped," Stanton wrote on social media.
It will be tough for Stanton to top his record-setting performance last year at Petco Park in San Diego, where he put on a 61-homer show en route to the crown.
Stanton is the first confirmed participate for this year' Home Run Derby. Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees' behemoth rookie sensation, is also considering taking part.
The idea of a Stanton-Judge Derby faceoff has been brewing since at least May, when manager Don Mattingly was first asked about the possibility.
"Why not? That'd be fun," Mattingly said. "Everybody likes seeing them go a long way. I don't know how much that means, that you can hit a ball far in a home run derby, but it would be fun to watch."
Was Stanton down?
"Sure," he said, complimenting Judge's abilities. "Pretty cool, pretty good. He stays inside the ball well, he's got good opposite power _ and complete power of course."
As of Sunday night, Home Run Derby and All-Star Game tickets were still available at face value at Marlins.com.
