Wright selected Bryce Harper (Nationals), Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer (both Rockies) to the NL squad.
"I grew up with Michael," said Wright, who shares his hometown of Norfolk, Va., with Cuddyer. "I think that he's one of the more underrated players and a friend, and our relationship had a lot to do with it and his production had a lot to do with it. He has 15 or 16 home runs and had a 27-game hitting streak, so, for me, that was my choice.
"The other two I did based on who was leading the National League in home runs at the time -- CarGo -- and who the fans wanted to see, because it's ultimately for the fans. Bryce Harper won that running away, so those were the two picks, and with the third pick I had to represent Virginia and the 757.
"I really am sorry that Carlos Beltran, Domonic Brown, [Paul] Goldschmidt, [Joey] Votto, [Pedro] Alvarez -- they were all obviously on the original list. The three guys I asked to do it all said yes and jumped at it."
"I grew up with Michael," said Wright, who shares his hometown of Norfolk, Va., with Cuddyer. "I think that he's one of the more underrated players and a friend, and our relationship had a lot to do with it and his production had a lot to do with it. He has 15 or 16 home runs and had a 27-game hitting streak, so, for me, that was my choice.
"The other two I did based on who was leading the National League in home runs at the time -- CarGo -- and who the fans wanted to see, because it's ultimately for the fans. Bryce Harper won that running away, so those were the two picks, and with the third pick I had to represent Virginia and the 757.
"I really am sorry that Carlos Beltran, Domonic Brown, [Paul] Goldschmidt, [Joey] Votto, [Pedro] Alvarez -- they were all obviously on the original list. The three guys I asked to do it all said yes and jumped at it."
Is anyone else not ok with some of this? I get that it's just the Home Run Derby but isn't Stanton more likely to awe the fans in that setting?
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