There's only one Home Run Derby going on tonight that I care about:
Red Wings first baseman Justin Huber will compete in the Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night in Portland, Ore.
He warmed up for the task Saturday, belting a three-run homer in the third inning off Lehigh Valley pitcher Brian Mazone.
Monday’s derby will feature five other players: Brendan Katin (Nashville Sounds), Terry Evans (Salt Lake Bees), John Bowker (Fresno Grizzlies) Shelley Duncan (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees) and Andy Tracy (Lehigh Valley IronPigs).
The game will feature the PCL All-Stars against the International League. The game will be televised on July 15th, on ESPN2.
Huber should be familiar with the park, as he played there last season as a member of the Beavers.
For others, such as Rochester outfielder and International League All-star Justin Huber, the selection is about validation. Huber, not even on the Minnesota Twins' 40-man roster, has appeared in 71 major league games with Kansas City and San Diego. But injuries the past two years have limited his production and almost cost him his career.
He hopes becoming a Triple-A All-Star will raise his profile in what has stretched into a nine-year minor league career.
"It's getting tougher and tougher to keep getting recognized," Huber, 26, said. "Any time you get a chance to get your name out there is a plus."
Please tell me this will be televised somewhere?