Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts is an absolute stud leading the league in batting average (.368), doubles (19), runs (49) and home runs (16). But if baseball fans had hopes of seeing the 25-year-old superstar in this year’s Home Run Derby, forget about it.
Betts, when asked about the possibility in participating in the exhibition of power, told the Boston Globe: “Hell no. I don’t hit home runs in BP.”
Asked Mookie Betts if he had any interest in the Home Rum Derby. “Hell no,” he said. “I don’t hit home runs in BP.”
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) May 23, 2018
Boston teammate J.D. Martinez, who has 15 homers this season, also said he had no interest in the derby because he still feels jaded after being overlooked in 2015 when he had 25 homers at the break for the Tigers.
"MLB didn't want me," Martinez said (via ESPN.com). "I figured I'd have the option of doing it and they said no. They had other guys they wanted, all these young guys. I was like, 'Forget it. I'll never do it.'"
Yankees outfielder and reigning derby champ Aaron Judge has already said he won’t defend his title at Nationals Park.