Arrieta wants to join Bumgarner in Home Run Derby

First it was Madison Bumgarner. Now Jake Arrieta wants in on the home run fun.

The San Francisco Giants ace, known as much for his home run hitting prowess as his pitching abilities, recently expressed interest in joining this year's Home Run Derby field in San Diego. Arrieta's heard all the chatter, too, and he seems to be feeling left out.

The reigning NL Cy Young winner now says he wants to swing for the fences against Bumgarner this July.

"If he's in it, I need to be in it, that's for sure," Arrieta told reporters after he pitched seven innings on Saturday to help his Chicago Cubs beat the Braves 8-2.

Arrieta has good reason to believe he deserves a Derby spot, as he's battling with Bumgarner for the title of best hitting pitcher in baseball. The 30-year-old showed off his power stroke in his first at-bat of 2016 by launching a 442-foot blast to dead center field - the longest homer by a pitcher since 2009. He also rattled off another two-hit day Saturday to run his batting line to .276/.344/.414.

Bumgarner has him beat in the career category, though, with 13 home runs to Arrieta's three.

Related: 5 pitchers we want to see in a HR derby

Though he has selfish motives behind his plea, Arrieta believes a Derby including pitchers - or even a pitchers-only edition of the event - would add an intriguing event to All-Star week. The very idea has got his blood flowing.

"The adrenaline I would get in a Home Run Derby would be much greater (than pitching a no-hitter)," he said. "I think it would be mentally and physically draining but a really fun experience."