Trout 'probably not' going to participate in Home Run Derby
TORONTO - Mike Trout's vow to eventually participate in the Home Run Derby likely won't be fulfilled this season.
"I haven't really thought about it. Probably not," Trout told theScore in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre on Wednesday prior to his game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
If he indeed skips the event this season at Nationals Park, the Los Angeles Angels outfielder will join fellow stars Mookie Betts and Aaron Judge, the defending champion, who've already opted to pass.
Trout said in 2015 that he would eventually participate in the derby, and followed that up the next year by reiterating that a time would come when he's involved.
"Eventually I want to do it," he said in 2016, according to MLB.com. "But it's a long two days. Eventually, I'm going to try to do it; just not this year."
Trout has been an All-Star in each of the last six seasons, but did not participate in last year's contest due to an injury. He's well on his way to being named an All-Star again in 2018, as he sits second in the majors with 3.5 WAR.
The two-time MVP entered play Wednesday with 14 home runs, good for the fifth most in the majors and two back of Betts for the league lead. Trout has hit 196 home runs over the last six seasons, and belted 33 across 114 games in 2017. Since 2012, only Edwin Encarnacion, Chris Davis, Nelson Cruz, and Giancarlo Stanton have hit more homers than Trout.
The 2018 Home Run Derby will take place July 16 in Washington, D.C.