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5 pitchers we want to see in a HR derby

Denis Poroy / Getty Images Sport / Getty

On Sunday, on the heels of his second homer of the season and 460-foot blast during BP, Madison Bumgarner delivered the pitch we've all been waiting for: I want to compete in the Home Run Derby.

Bumgarner's plea drew up instant excitement on the baseball internet, but unfortunately for hitting pitcher enthusiasts, the idea was quickly shut down by manager Bruce Bochy.

"He's convinced he could win it," Bochy said. "I think he would wear himself down in the first round, he'd try to hit it so hard."

The wishful thinking got us wondering: Which pitchers would we like to see at a pitcher-friendly home run derby? In the words of Bryce Harper, let's make baseball fun again, one pitcher homer at a time:

Bartolo Colon

Duh. The gregarious 43-year-old right-hander might have needed 19 seasons and 246 plate appearances to hit his first homer, but is there anyone you'd rather watch teeing off on batting practice balls under prime-time lights? Colon's only career homer - at this year's All-Star venue, Petco Park, no less - captivated the sports world and triggered everything from baseball cards to movie trailers and tattoos. Forget his .250 slugging percentage, the guy's drilling 108-mph singles.

Zack Greinke

Greinke, a noted flipper of bats, doesn't have a home run this year, but his six career blasts are tied for fourth among active pitchers, and his .602 OPS over 371 plate appearances leads all current major-league arms. Despite his lack of power this season, Greinke's move to the desert hasn't done anything to affect his stroke, as the Diamondbacks right-hander is hitting a cool .296/.310/.333 across 30 plate appearances. Meanwhile, his impressive .328 average in 2013 paced all major-league pitchers.

Noah Syndergaard

Nothing says home runs like long-haired Norse gods nicknamed "Thor." Syndergaard's slugging .474 this year thanks in large part to his improbable two-homer effort against Kenta Maeda last month, a game he described as a "dream" inspired by Colon's historic blast from just a few days earlier. We're willing to bet his inclusion in the event would be more like a nightmare for his competitors, given that one of his homers traveled at a ridiculous speed of 103.5 mph.

Jose Fernandez

No, Fernandez doesn't have nearly as many homers as Yovani Gallardo (12) or other noted mashers like Adam Wainwright (7), but a home run derby needs entertainment, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a more excitable performer than the Marlins ace. After all, Fernandez's first career blast (he has two), and subsequent celebration, caused both benches to clear when the right-hander's antics drew the ire of then-Braves catcher Brian McCann.

Madison Bumgarner

Bumgarner's the one guy on this list who could actually argue his place in a hitter home run derby, given the fact that as of Thursday, the Giants right-hander had as many homers in his last 190 plate appearances as Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. The strapping 6-foot-5 lefty has led the league in pitcher homers for the last two seasons and paces all active pitchers with 13 career blasts. His latest bomb - a two-run job to left off Braves right-hander Aaron Blair - jumped off his bat at a scorching 109.4 mph and traveled 411 feet.

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)

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