The titanic Home Run Derby showdown the baseball world has hoped for months is going to happen.
Yankees rookie outfielder Aaron Judge announced Monday his participation in next week's Home Run Derby at Marlins Park, meaning he'll compete against the reigning champion and player he is most often compared to, the Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton.
Alongside the two behemoths will be their teammates: Marlins first baseman Justin Bour, who is also an All-Star Final Vote candidate, and Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez.
The Dodgers' Cody Bellinger and Twins' Miguel Sano and have also said they're in. That leaves two spots open.
"I think it will be the most exciting [Derby] in a long time, actually," said Stanton, who won it last year in San Diego with a record 61 homers. "Some good lefties in there to get that upper deck. Power righties also. So it's going to be good."
At 6-foot-7 and 282 pounds and the author of many a long home run, Judge is regularly compared to Stanton, who is listed at a mere 6-6 and 245.
But they haven't even met each other yet.
"It's the kind of a thing where we both have to talk about [each other] all the time but don't even know each other or said hello first," Stanton said. "A good hangout and say hello and have some batting practice before would be cool.
"It's like the twin you've never met, I guess. Everyone's comparing us to each other. We don't even know each other."
Bour made his participation official in an afternoon interview on ESPN2/MLB Network's "Intentional Talk," hamming it up live from Busch Stadium much to the delight of a clubhouse full of laughing Marlins watching inside.
Bour said Marlins outfield/baserunning coach Lorenzo Bundy, who usually throws Bour batting practice, will pitch to him in the Derby. Stanton has solidified plans to bring back former Marlins coach Pat Shine, who pitched to Stanton in last year's contest.
"I didn't watch much baseball growing up _ I liked to play it _ but the Home Run Derby is something you've got to sit down and watch and enjoy," Bour said. "But you don't really do this thing just to compete. You're going to go out there and try to win it. If [Stanton] or I win, that would be great."
Marcell Ozuna, who was offered a chance to participate but declined because he feared messing up his swing, said Stanton will "for sure" beat Judge, citing Stanton's experience in such contests.
"Let me stay chill, bring some water and Gatorade to my guy [Stanton] and have fun," Ozuna said.
Souvenirs will be aplenty.
"The ball," Bour said, "is going to be flying everywhere."
