Charlie Blackmon to participate in MLB Home Run Derby

DENVER – Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon will compete in the 2017 Home Run Derby, according to a tweet from ESPN’s Buster Olney.

Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies, Mike Moustakas of the Royals round out HR Derby field. Stanton, Judge, Sanchez, Bellinger, Bour, Sano.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 4, 2017

Blackmon is an unusual candidate in some ways for the derby, being both a lead-off man and center fielder, but his 18 home runs on the season and .938 OPS, and coming on the heels of a season in which he hit 29 homers, he has certainly earned it. He doesn’t have a typical home run swing so it will be interesting to see how he fares against Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton and a few others who were practically sculpted from clay specifically to hit home runs.

Interestingly, Blackmon apparently beat out teammate Mark Reynolds who has more natural power. Further, it might have been a nice gesture to still get Reynolds to the game since he is putting together such a fantastic season after having almost nobody express interest in signing him this past offseason.

Blackmon will make his second All-Star appearance as well, starting in center for the NL.