Jose Fernandez: Pitchers ‘should do our own Home Run Derby'

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Giants full-time ace and part-time slugger Madison Bumgarner has made it clear he wants to be a part of the Home Run Derby this year. 

“I’ll do it for sure,” Bumgarner said last week. “If they ask me to do it, I’ll do it.” 

But, he's not the only pitcher pushing to show off his power. Last year's NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta recently said on the possibility of Bumgarner being in the Derby, "If he's in it, I want to be in it."

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright saw his NL Central counterpart put his name in the Derby and wants in as well

"Well, if Madbum and (at)JArrieta34 want in on this (hash)homerunderby...I might as well throw my name in the hat!" Wainwright tweeted.

Now, the biggest idea of them all is being suggested by Jose Fernandez of the Miami Marlins. Fernandez doesn't want to just see Bumgarner step into the batter's box during this year's Home Run Derby, but he wants pitchers to have an event of their own. 

“We should do our own Home Run Derby,” Fernandez said to the Miami Herald. “I think it would be very fun for baseball. I think the fans would love to see that.”

[PAVLOVIC: Bumgarner will 'for sure' do Home Run Derby if invited]

And if the event does take place at the Midsummer Classic, count Fernandez in. 

“I want in for sure,” Fernandez said. “Oh my God, it would be amazing.”

After Wainwright made his plea on Twitter on Sunday, he showed off his talent on Tuesday. The three-time All-Star smashed five home runs during batting practice in St. Louis, with two going into Big Mac Land, according to KMOXSports.
 
It was before the Giants' game in St. Louis on June 5 that the baseball world truly became enamored with the idea of Bumgarner participating in the Home Run Derby. He too was launching balls into Big Mac Land during batting, but took his power one step further with a shot a level higher into the upper deck.
 
The power display prompted Dodgers center fielder and Palo Alto native Joc Pederson to take to Twitter and urge Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford to get Bumgarner in the world's most famous home run hitting contest. Crawford's answer: "He would be my pick." 
 
Bumgarner and Noah Syndergaard of the New York Mets lead all pitchers with two home runs each this year. Arrieta and Wainwright have each hit one this season, while Fernandez has two homers in his big league career.

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