Justin Morneau, who won an MVP and a Home Run Derby as a member of the Minnesota Twins, will try to hit a few more shots over the wall in Minneapolis next week.
Despite not being an All-Star, Morneau was named Thursday as the final member of the National League team for the Home Run Derby next Monday night at Target Field.
The Colorado Rockies first baseman was selected by teammate Troy Tulowitzki, who is the captain of the NL derby team. American League derby captain Jose Bautista selected Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson, who hit his 20th homer of the season on Thursday.
Morneau played in Minnesota for 10-plus seasons from 2003-13, winning AL MVP in 2006 and the Home Run Derby in 2008 over Josh Hamilton at Yankee Stadium. He was a finalist to be selected by fans as the last AL All-Star, a vote that was won by White Sox ace Chris Sale.
Tulowitzki and Bautista picked their first three derby teammates on Sunday.
In addition to Tulowitzki and Morneau, the NL team also includes Miami's Giancarlo Stanton, Dodgers star Yasiel Puig and Cincinnati's Todd Frazier.
Bautista and Donaldson will be joined by defending Home Run Derby champion Yoenis Cespedes of Oakland, Baltimore's Adam Jones and Minnesota's Brian Dozier, who is not on the AL All-Star team but will be a home favorite.
In a new format this year, there will be a maximum of seven outs per round and a bracketed competition after the first round. The first-round leader for each team will move directly into the semifinals.
[SportsNetwork.com]
