Brewers’ Jesus Aguilar does not believe that HR Derby messes up a player’s swing

Jesus Aguilar is not worried about the Home Run Derby potentially derailing his breakout season.

The Milwaukee Brewers slugger, who will be participating in next week’s competition at Nationals Park, told reporters on Friday that he does not believe in the theory that the Derby messes up a player’s swing for the rest of the year, per Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

#Brewers Jesus Aguilar will have coach Carlos Subero pitch to him in All-Star HR Derby. "He throws batting practice to me every day," Aguilar said. Aguilar said he does not believe in theory that HR Derby messes up a player's swing for rest of season.

— Tom (@Haudricourt) July 13, 2018

The 28-year-old Aguilar has been one of the stories of the year so far, coming out of obscurity in his fifth MLB season to lead the National League in both home runs (24) and OPS (1.019). As a result, he was selected for his first career All-Star team and his first career Home Run Derby appearance.

The idea that competing the Derby negatively impacts a player’s swing has become a rather popular one — many have pointed to the second-half slumps that players often experience after participating in it. However, Aguilar now joins this notable former player in dismissing the notion as a bunch of hooey.