Lester: Pitcher-only HR Derby isn't a good idea

Jon Lester thinks a pitcher-only home run derby is a bad idea.

With all the hype and excitement surrounding the possibility of seeing the likes of Madison Bumgarner, Jake Arrieta, and Adam Wainwright hit long balls, Lester says the concept might be cooler than actually going forward with it.

"I think the aura behind it, and the idea behind it sounds cool," he told MLB Network Radio. "I don't really know if fans wanna see pitchers hit home runs. I don't know that."

It's no secret he isn't much of a hitter, racking up six hits in 146 plate appearances over his career. But Lester isn't so much concerned about the entertainment factor as he is about the safety of pitchers.

"Everyone knows I'm not a great hitter, but if they did ask me to do the Home Run Derby and I did it and went out there and tweaked something and missed the next two, three or four starts, I just couldn't live with myself," Lester said, echoing what San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy has preached on numerous occasions.

"I'm not saying any of these guys are gonna get hurt, I just don't understand why would you wanna risk something just because you think it's cool."

So far this season, nine pitchers in the majors have hit home runs, with Bumgarner and New York Mets' starter Noah Syndergaard hitting two each.

Lester isn't saying a pitcher-only home run derby wouldn't be fun, but when the priority is pitching, the risk of getting hurt doing something out of the ordinary doesn't make sense to him.

"When it doesn't matter let's do it, but in the middle of the season I don't personally like it," Lester said. "I'm selfish. I want my guys healthy, I want my guys pitching and I don't want them pulling something at a nonsense home run derby."