Slugger commits to Home Run Derby, extends streak to five games

A Tampa Bay slugger committed to the All-Star Home Run Derby on July 13 and then hit a three-run home run in his fifth straight game. The blast came against Kansas City pitcher Noah Cameron on Tuesday night. It was the player's eighth homer in seven games, a club record, and lifted his team to a 10-4 victory.

recent performance The slugger had already been named American League Player of the Week after hitting seven home runs and driving in 15 runs the previous week. He said he has felt comfortable at the plate for the last two weeks and is trying to stay aggressive in the strike zone.

The only other Tampa Bay players to hit home runs in five straight games were Jose Canseco in 1999, Carlos Pena in 2010 and Mike Zunino in 2021. Pena's streak reached six games, the franchise mark.

Each batter will receive 20 swings in the first round, and any player who homers on the 20th swing will continue until missing. The top four advance, with longest home-run distance as the tiebreaker. The event will air on Netflix after ESPN had broadcast it since 1994. The slugger reached the final round last year before losing 18-15 to Seattle's Cal Raleigh.