Triple-A Home Run Derby Participants Announced
July 3, 2012 - International League (IL1) News Release
Dan Johnson, Matt LaPorta, and Valentino Pascucci of the International League and Joey Butler, Mike Hessman, and Luis Jimenez of the Pacific Coast League have been named as the six participants for the 2012 Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby, presented by Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel. The Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 9 at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, New York at 7:00 p.m. ET.
Johnson of the Charlotte Knights is the only active IL player with at least 20 home runs this season, and he was the winner of the 2010 Triple-A Home Run Derby held in Lehigh Valley. LaPorta of the Columbus Clippers is among the most popular players in Triple-A Baseball, having received more votes during online fan All-Star voting than anyone else. Fans in Buffalo however could be partial to their own Pascucci, who leads the Bisons with 13 long balls this season and has 51 homers over the last three seasons with the Herd. Hessman and Pascucci are first and second respectively on the list of active career Minor League home run leaders.
Round Rock's Butler has nearly eclipsed his career-high for home runs in a season already this year. The Triple-A classification leader is Hessman of Oklahoma City. The former Buffalo Bisons has crushed 25 long balls in his return to the U.S. in 2012 after playing last season in Japan. The 280-pound Jimenez of Tacoma will be one of two left-handed sluggers in this year's competition, along with Johnson.
The 2012 Triple-A Home Run Derby will be preceded by a Celebrity Home Run Derby that will include Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta, New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, and actor Nick Bakay.
The Triple-A Home Run Derby will be broadcast live in many Time Warner Cable served cities throughout the country. Called by "The Voice of the Bisons" Ben Wagner and Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer Duke McGuire, fans will be able to catch the Home Run Derby live on Time Warner Cable Sports in locations including Austin, Buffalo, Charlotte, Dallas, Durham, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Rochester, San Diego, Syracuse, and Tampa. Check local listings for details.
Statistical Information:
International League Participants Age 2012 Total Career High HR Career to Date
Dan Johnson, Charlotte 32 21 37 (2010) 246
Matt LaPorta, Columbus 27 16 24 (2009) 103
Valentino Pascucci, Buffalo 33 13 34 (2007) 247
Pacific Coast League Participants Age 2012 Total Career High HR Career to Date
Joey Butler, Round Rock 26 12 14 (2011) 52
Mike Hessman, Oklahoma City 34 25 39 (2008) 392
Luis Jimenez, Tacoma 30 13 23 (2007) 134
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