One of MLB's brightest young stars is set to shine at this year's Home Run Derby.
Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was unveiled Monday as the fourth competitor in the 2024 derby.
Witt was named to his first American League All-Star team as a reserve on Sunday night after his incredible first half.
The 24-year-old is slashing .324/.372/.564 with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases this season for the 49-43 Royals, who are looking to snap an eight-year playoff drought.
Over three MLB seasons, Witt has amassed 65 home runs, 84 doubles and 26 triples, establishing himself a fixture in Kansas City. The Royals gave him an 11-year, $288.8 million extension in February.
With the Texas Rangers hosting the Midsummer Classic, Witt will be swinging for the fences not too far from the home. A native of Colleyville, Texas, Witt grew up just north of Globe Life Field.
Witt's swing should fit the Home Run Derby just fine, as nine of his 15 long balls on the season have travelled more than 400 feet, including two that were sent 450 feet or farther.
He will become the fifth Royals player to participate in the derby, joining Salvador Perez, Mike Moustakas, Danny Tartabull and Bo Jackson, looking to become the first in franchise history to win the event.
Witt joins Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso as the four to commit to the competition.
Alonso, a two-time derby champ, is the only player of the four to have participated in the past.
There will be four more competitors announced in the coming week as the Home Run Derby adopts a new format for 2024.
The first round of the eight-batter tournament will no longer be a head-to-head bracket and instead will advance the four top scorers to the semifinals. Ties will be broken by the longest home run amongst batters in the first round, with three-minute rounds preceding the two-minute round in the finals.
The 2024 derby is set for July 15, starting at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT and can be seen on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
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