Alex Bregman is already game-planning for his debut in the Home Run Derby.
Addressing reporters on Thursday, the Houston Astros slugger, who will be making his first career Derby appearance in next week’s contest at Nationals Park, shared the interesting strategy that he will be employing. Bregman said that he was planning to hit lower home runs so that they would land sooner and leave him more time on the clock, per Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston.
Alex Bregman (@ABREG_1) on the unique strategy he'll use in an effort to win the Home Run Derby: "My key is going to be to hit the homers a little bit lower than the other guys, so it lands sooner, so I don't have as much time to wait in between swings." pic.twitter.com/MC9B5HJMzN
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) July 12, 2018
It sounds like a smart move with the Derby moving to timed rounds, unlike prior to 2015 when contestants were given a set number of outs per round. With a number of modern analytical tools also at his disposal (launch angle, exit velocity, etc.) Bregman should easily be able to implement his strategy.
Hopefully though, Bregman’s low home run balls won’t create a hazard for overzealous fans in the stands like in Home Run Derby competitions past.
