Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna were the latest additions to the Home Run Derby on Monday.
Witt, 24, and Ozuna, 33, are both already heading to Arlington, Texas, for the All-Star Game. It’s the first time for Witt and the third for Ozuna, who last made the team in 2017.
Witt, who grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, will participate in the derby for the first time. The Home Run Derby will be held on July 15.
“It’s an honor just to be able to be asked to do that and kind of represent the Royals,” Witt said.
Witt is batting .324 with 15 homers, 61 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 92 games this season. Entering Monday, he was leading the majors with 119 hits and leading the AL with 25 doubles.
Witt will become the fifth Royals player to participate in the Home Run Derby and the first since Salvador Perez in 2021.
Ozuna, 33, has 23 home runs and a National League-high 72 RBIs through 88 games this season. He is batting .295.
Other confirmed entries in the slugging exhibition are the Philadelphia Phillies’ Alec Bohm, the Baltimore Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson and two-time winner Pete Alonso of the New York Mets.
–Field Level Media
