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The unofficial halfway point of the MLB season is already here, and fans all over the country will be tuned into one of baseball’s spectacles on Monday night.
This year’s Home Run Derby, however, might be the most-viewed ever, as it will be streamed on Netflix.
“It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be really exciting. What they’re doing to our sport, getting basically worldwide recognition. Fans that maybe aren’t interested in baseball see that it’s on Netflix and think, ‘Hey, I’m gonna watch this.’ So, we have a really good opportunity to bring baseball to viewers that don’t necessarily see it on a daily basis,” former All-Star and Derby participant Anthony Rizzo, who is a Netflix analyst for the event, said recently to Fox News Digital.
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Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo bats during the Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Elsa/Getty Images)
“They bring stardom everywhere. Everything they do, Netflix is first class. So, I’m excited for the guests we’re going to have on, the baseball players, the celebrities, the whole shebang.”
In an era where All-Star Games have turned into simply careful scrimmages, baseball’s remains different, as 100 mph fastballs with devastating breaking balls are still constant.
“I think when you get between the lines, it’s all fun and games until the game starts. It’s still relaxed and fun, but when you’re in the box or on defense, it’s very competitive. You want to take the guy deep, you want to get a hit, you want to showcase your All-Star talent on the national stage. If you get out, it doesn’t matter as much. If you get a hit, it doesn’t matter as much. But it feels good to perform at the All-Star Game,” Rizzo said.
One All-Star phenomenon in the NBA’s Dunk Contest unarguably has been watered down due to the fact that simply the game’s stars don’t participate. But that is not the case with the Home Run Derby, even with the exhaustion it brings.
Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs bats during the Gillette Home Run Derby at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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“I’ve done the Derby myself, and I was sore for a week afterward just because of how hard I was swinging. So, you’ve really got to assess where you’re at physically and mentally. It’s mentally grueling, too. The magnitude and the emotion that go into the Derby and the All-Star Game are intense, and then two days later you’re back playing. So, you’ve just got to know yourself,” said Rizzo.
But Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Junior Caminero, and Ben Rice are just some of the top names that will be in Philadelphia attempting to hit as many home runs in 20 swings each round.
“The Derby brings adrenaline that you’re just not used to having in July,” Rizzo said.
“You want the big stars in it all the time. It’s also really good for young players to showcase themselves. I don’t think the game will ever shy away from it, and the incentive to win now is higher than it’s ever been. To hit a few home runs over a couple of hours and win seven figures is a pretty nice outcome, for sure.”
The break, Rizzo inclined, has the potential to be one of the best ever.
“I think it’s just so hard to be an All-Star every year. What goes into being an All-Star in Major League Baseball, especially as a position player, is you’re not just going to roll out there and hit 20 to 30 home runs by the All-Star break and have a .280 to .300 average. There’s so much work that goes into it,” he said.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo looks on during batting practice before the 86th MLB All-Star Game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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“Then you get to enjoy and celebrate that moment with all your peers who have also had a great first half. The Home Run Derby is awesome. It’s in Philly, and I feel like Philly right now is just on fire. The Phillies have completely turned their season around and are looking like World Series contenders again. It’s America’s 250th birthday, the World Cup is coming, and everything’s going right right now. Philly, the Home Run Derby there, the All-Star Game, I would imagine the city’s going to be rocking.”
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