Move over regular baseball, there’s a new and exciting game coming to Albuquerque in August.
Major League Baseball and the Albuquerque Isotopes announced this week that the Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park will host the Home Run Derby X (HRDX) on Aug. 23. MLB Vice President of International Strategy Kelhem Salter described HRDX at a news conference as a traditional home run derby — a hitting competition with no runners or outfielders — with a twist.
“At its heart, the two things we’ve done is change it from an individual competition into a team competition and also add in defense,” Salter said.
Whereas a traditional home run derby is just a batter swinging for the fences, HRDX adds in three outfielders aiming to score points by catching the balls.
Sweetening the deal for fans is a lineup of baseball and softball legends.
Among former University of New Mexico softball player Andrea Howard, other players slated to step up to the plate in August are baseball powerhouse Manny Ramirez, former MLB player and current hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks Jonny Gomes, four-time member of the USA Women’s Baseball National Team and current roving instructor for the Oakland Athletics organization Alex Hugo and former MLB player Nick Swisher.
Hugo, who is the first two-time winner of the USA Baseball Sportswoman of the Year Award, told reporters that after participating in HRDX last year, it became her “favorite event.”
“I tell everybody this is the most fun I’ve had, with the least amount of pressure,” Hugo said.
Hugo added that she hopes to inspire aspiring female athletes through her HRDX involvement.
“If I’m lucky enough to do this event, I’m hoping in the future that young girls are excited to become a part of something like this, in whatever capacity they can,” she said.
Swisher, a 12-year MLB veteran who’s played twice for the New York Yankees and a self-described “girl dad,” praised Hugo and other female HRDX players for inspiring the next generation of female athletes.
“My daughters have seen me hit for plenty of years, but they watch these women hit all the time,” Swisher said. “They are role models for my daughters.”
Ticket prices range from $15 to $30 and go on sale on June 3. Find more information about the event here.
