Yankees' Robinson Cano to participate in State Farm Home Run Derby

Major League Baseball announced six players who will participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby. The Derby, for those who don't know, is a silly competition in which a player tries to hit the most home runs possible. Each player gets 10 outs, outs being hits that are not home runs. If a home run is hit, it does not count as an out. Anything else hit (grounders, fouls) are outs. The top four home run amounts in the first round move to the second round. Home runs from the first round transfer over to the second round, and the two players with the most home runs combined from the first and second rounds move on to the final round, in which the home run total is whiped and the player has to restart. In the final round, two players are entered and the player only gets 5 outs. The player with the most home runs in the last round wins. You can read the rest of the rules here. The participants this year as as follow:

• Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
• Robinson Cano, Yankees
• Corey Hart, Brewers
• Matt Holliday, Cardinals
• David Ortiz, Red Sox
• Vernon Wells, Blue Jays

10 contestants are needed, so expect the announcement of the final four in a couple of days.

I've never really liked the Home Run Derby due to the lingering affect it has on a player's swing. Cano, who leads all major league second baseman with 16 home runs, was not someone I expected to be in the Home Run Derby before the season. I know he's a great hitter, but the proof of the Home Run Derby curse is real (see Bobby Abreu after 2005). I just hope Robbie doesn't try to go crazy and mess up his swing.