Cleveland Guardians: José Ramírez will participate in 2022 Home Run Derby

Now Cleveland Guardians fans really have a reason to watch the Home Run Derby next Monday night.

It was confirmed Wednesday night that third baseman José Ramírez accepted an invitation to this year’s Home Run Derby (and the first of Ramírez’s career), which will be held in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium.

Ramírez certainly earned the invitation – he has 17 home runs on the season to go along with an AL-leading 30 doubles and 68 RBIs. He has an outside chance of not only surpassing the 36 home runs he hit in 2021, but of potentially topping his career high of 39 home runs, which he hit in 2018.

If Ramírez is going to win the Home Run Derby, he’ll certainly have his work cut out for him. As of now, the field of seven players (with one spot left to fill) includes Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña Jr., Kyle Schwarber, Julio Rodríguez, Albert Pujols, and Pete Alonso, who is the two-time defending champion of the event.

Ramírez will be joined out in Los Angeles with closer Emmanuel Clase and second baseman Andrés Giménez , who are the Guardians’ other All-Stars this season.