Dom Brown entered Tuesday night’s game with 23 home runs, yet he wasn’t invited to the All-Star Game Home Run Derby.
Having the second-most home runs in the National League isn’t enough to impress David Wright.
The Mets’ third baseman is the captain and he decided against adding Domonic Brown to the All-Star Game Home Run Derby.
“It’s alright,” Brown said. “I’m playing in the All-Star game, which is a great honor. If I had to choose between playing in the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game, I would go with the All-Star Game. It’s all good. I don’t have to worry about that [the Derby] screwing up my swing.”
The shame is that Brown could have been a contender for the Derby crown. The Phillies’ left fielder, with 23 home runs in a breakout season, puts on quite a show during batting practice.
“You have to be careful with him,” Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez said. “He has so much power. It doesn’t take much for him to put a ball in the seats. I’m sure he’s fun to watch for the fans here.”
Gonzalez’s teammate Bryce Harper (13 homers) was selected, along with Carlos Gonzalez (24) and Michael Cuddyer (15). They will join Wright (13) in the competition
“Maybe I’ll be asked to be part of it in the future,” Brown said. “But that’s not a big concern. My concern is winning as many games as possible. The All-Star game is an exhibition game. We have to focus on the real games.”
The Phillies haven’t had a player in the Home Run Derby since Ryan Howard competed in 2009.
Aumont optioned to Lehigh
Phillippe Aumont was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley for the second time this season. The hulking reliever has been unable to induce groundballs.
“He should be a sinkerball machine,” pitching coach Rich Dubee said.
The Phillies purchased the contract of hard-throwing reliever Luis Garcia, who climbed from single A-Clearwater to the majors in just two-and-a-half months.
