With the 2018 Home Run Derby only two days away, Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber have begun their preparations for the big event Monday night. Schwarber said he would take a practice round before today’s game in San Diego that would closely resemble what he will see during the Derby. He said he wanted “to get the two minutes in without the cage” so he wasn’t overwhelmed when he got under the big lights in Washington D.C.
Javier Baez seems to be much more laid back.
“I’m just going to go out there and hit BP, that’s all I can do,” Baez said. “I’m going to obviously try to hit some bombs.”
Both Cubs sluggers have selected their pitchers for the event and have also drawn their opponents as well. Schwarber will face off against Alex Bregman and Baez will battle Max Muncy in the first round of the event. If you’re the betting type, the beautiful people in Las Vegas have already given us their pick as to who they think will win it all.
Kyle Schwarber opened with the worst odds (+900) to win the Home Run Derby
He’s now the +300 favorite 👀 pic.twitter.com/6IMdJbJUzJ
— B/R Gambling (@BRGambling) July 13, 2018
Both Schwarber and Baez will be first time participants so it’s important that they prepare for the event as much as they can. Who better to help them with that than one of their teammates who has already gone through an entire Home Run Derby?
Anthony Rizzo participated in the 2015 Home Run Derby in Cincinnati and although he was defeated by Josh Donaldson in the first round, Rizzo hit some absolute bombs at Great American Ball Park.
My apologies for having to listen to Chris Berman during that clip.
Rizzo offered his teammates some veteran advice before they stepped on the big stage Monday night.
“The biggest advice is just try to hit the ball over the fence and not out of the stadium, because that’s what you want to do.”
I’d imagine both Schwarber and Baez will ignore that and try to hit the ball as far as they can on every single pitch that they see but at least Rizzo tried to offer his insight.
My pick to win it is Kyle Schwarber and although I’ve never really been a big Home Run Derby guy, I will definitely be tuning in so I can watch both Cubs players hit shots like this.
Can’t wait to watch this during the Home Run derby…over….and over…and over again. #Cubs pic.twitter.com/ovkp3LvQIs
— Adam Nissen (@nissen54) July 11, 2018
Sorry, I just needed an excuse to use that GIF again.
