Guardians’ José Ramírez to Compete in 2024 MLB Dwelling Run Derby; Joins Alonso, Extra | Information, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors


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Cleveland Guardians star José Ramírez is the sixth confirmed participant in the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby.
MLB announced on Tuesday that Ramírez has joined the field for the All-Star event at Globe Life Field in Texas.
MLB @MLB
José Ramírez wants back in!<br><br>The six-time All-Star will compete in his second <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/HRDerby?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#HRDerby</a>.<br><br>(MLB x <a href=”https://twitter.com/TMobile?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@TMobile</a>) <a href=”https://t.co/1TOh0XI5da”>pic.twitter.com/1TOh0XI5da</a>
The other confirmed participants in the Home Run Derby so far include Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles, Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves, Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals and Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies.
This will mark Ramírez’s second Home Run Derby appearance in the past three seasons. His first attempt was in 2022 when he lost to eventual champion Juan Soto in the first round.
Ramírez is a unique player because he hits a lot of home runs, but his skill set doesn’t seem designed for the Derby format. The six-time All-Star isn’t a standout in metrics like exit velocity or barrel percentage.
In fact, Ramírez only ranks in the 62nd percentile in barrel rate (9.0 percent) and 53rd percentile in hard-hit rate (40.5 percent).
Bohm is the only other Derby participant who ranks below the 80th percentile in both categories. Alonso is in the 57th percentile in hard-hit percentage (41.3), but he’s in the 82nd percentile in barrel rate (12.1).
Despite not being a player who typically hits majestic homers, Ramírez has been one of the most consistent power hitters in MLB since 2017. He has a .529 slugging percentage in his last eight seasons, including a .526 mark this season that’s on pace to be his highest since 2021.
Ramírez’s 23 homers this season are tied with Ozuna for the fourth-most in MLB. He’s been one of the main driving forces for Cleveland’s surprising first half. The Guardians enter Tuesday with the second-best mark in the AL (56-33) and a five-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.
Cleveland will send five players, including Ramírez, to the All-Star Game. The Phillies (seven) and Los Angeles Dodgers (six) are the only teams with more All-Star representatives. Ramírez will be a starter in the Midsummer Classic for the third time.
The 2024 Home Run Derby will take place on July 15 at 8 p.m. ET.