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Adam Wainwright clearly never took a lesson in integrity from the Derek Jeter school of baseball.

In interviews following his All-Star game start, Wainwright told reporters that he put his first-inning, 1-0 pitch to Jeter on a tee:

Jeter laced a double to right field, adding yet another memorable moment to his illustrious 20-year MLB career. But because of Wainwright, that moment is tainted.

Sure, Jeter deserved a hit or two in his 14th and final All-Star game appearance. But he deserved only what he could achieve on his own.

You don’t tally 3,408 career hits because opponents grant them to you.

And on the other side, if you can muster the disrespect for the game to groove a pitch, at least keep your mouth shut.

Zip it. Lock it. Throw away the key.

The only decision worse than grooving the pitch was saying he did it.

By admitting to intentionally throwing a meatball in Jeter’s wheelhouse, Wainwright publiclyundermined the swing. He publicly undermined the double. Worst of all, he publicly undermined the moment because he authored the moment.

The Twitterverse exploded as reporters tweeted out Wainwright’s quotes. Some, like NJ.com’s Brendan Kuty, did not condemn Wainwright:

Although, Kuty would end up changing his mind about the situation. 

But there’s no justifiable stance in favor of Wainwright—Jeter’s deserving of reciprocation of integrity aside.

The All-Star game is fun—for the players and the fans. The result also determines home-field advantage for the World Series. As inane as that is, it’s also the truth.

Wainwright not only did Jeter a disservice; he also endangered his St. Louis Cardinals‘ chances of obtaining home-field advantage in the Fall Classic.

Jeter’s double catalyzed a three-run first inning.

St. Louis carried a 52-44 record into the All-Star break. That pits them one game behind the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the NL Central. They’re also 0.5 games out of the wild card.

The Cardinals have a legitimate shot at reaching the World Series, and if they get there, Wainwright could have diminished their chances of winning.

But the World Series is still three months away. Tonight was about Derek Jeter.

And Adam Wainwright undermined the moment because he conspired to create it.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Part of the fun of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is watching managers get to play fantasy baseball with their starting lineups.

This is the only time where you’ll see the best the sport has to offer playing together on the same teams. These are the kinds of batting orders you could only hope to create in video games, and that’s only when you turn off the trade logic.

Some may criticize the league for adding an imaginary importance to the game and watering down the event over the years, but there’s no doubt that both the American League and National League teams boast all of today’s top stars.

American League

MLB Public Relations tweeted out the lineup for the American League:

You of course have to start off with the leadoff hitter. This will be Derek Jeter’s last All-Star Game, so why not throw him out first in the order? As much as MLB wants this game to matter, few fans take it too seriously. This is a good way to give Jeter a nice All-Star send-off.

American League manager John Farrell already has a plan in place for how he’ll handle the New York Yankees shortstop, per ESPN Radio’s Jon Sciambi:

After Jeter, it’s your typical big-hitting All-Star lineup.

Having Miguel Cabrera and Jose Bautista back to back is bound to scare any pitcher, even one as good as Adam Wainwright. Cabrera’s power numbers are down a bit in 2014, but he remains one of the most intimidating hitters in the majors.

Ahead of the All-Star Game, the reigning two-time MVP admitted that a groin tear from last year and subsequent offseason surgery have affected his performance, per USA Today‘s Jorge L. Ortiz:

“There are times when I feel good, but there are always muscles that are tightening, muscles that are not functioning properly,” Cabrera said in Spanish. “It’s part of the process. The same thing is happening to Justin Verlander, but the difference is he pitches every five days, so you don’t see it as frequently.

“But as he and I talked about, we’re never going to offer any excuses for our performance. We always want to be out on the field and compete, and I think that’s the most important thing we can do, compete and try to get past this tough time. And the main thing is we’re in first place.”

Once that news came out, Cabrera attempted to diffuse the situation, per Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News:

With the pressure completely off, Tuesday night should be a welcome reprieve for the 31-year-old.

The Nos. 6, 7 and 8 hitters offer a lot of pop in the order. Nelson Cruz, Adam Jones and Josh Donaldson have combined to hit 64 home runs so far in 2014.

Donaldson might be particularly motivated having missed out on the All-Star Game last year. You get the feeling that most players are pretty apathetic about the game, but the Oakland A’s star might be carrying last year’s slight with him.

National League

MLB Public Relations also tweeted out the NL lineup ahead of the game:

Two words: holy crap.

This is what an All-Star lineup is supposed to look like. In what other situation are you gonna see players the quality of Andrew McCutchen and Yasiel Puig at the top of the order? Giancarlo Stanton is all the way down in the fifth spot—that’s how loaded the NL is this year.

Stanton put on a show in the Home Run Derby—one of the few stars who actually performed up to expectations in the competition. With any luck, the Miami Marlins star will have saved up something from the Derby that he’ll unleash in the All-Star Game.

If there’s a weak part of this lineup, it’s Chase Utley hitting seventh, but he boasts a slash line of .293/.349/.445 with eight home runs and 46 runs batted in.

Aramis Ramirez is a soft spot, but he’s hammered 11 homers and driven in 43 runs. His teammates, Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez, are listed at eighth and ninth, respectively, and they’ve combined for 23 homers and 92 RBI.

Gomez himself is a former Twin, having been moved to Milwaukee in what was one of the more lopsided trades of the last few years:

The veteran outfielder doesn’t think the Minnesota fans will harbor any sort of ill will, per Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller:

If anything, Twins fans should be more angry at former general manager Bill Smith, who traded away one year of J.J. Hardy for a future two-time All-Star in Gomez.

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The MLB All-Star Game is used to highlight the best players in baseball near the halfway point of the regular season. Derek Jeter is not one of these players, but he still is worthy of his spot in the starting lineup for the American League.

In most cases, the positions on the All-Star team are for the players who have excelled throughout the first part of the season. Almost everyone in the starting lineup and certainly the reserves have put up big enough numbers to warrant their inclusion in the Midsummer Classic.

On the other hand, Jeter has struggled throughout most of this season in all phases of the game. The shortstop has put up a triple slash line of .272/.324/.322 with just two home runs and six stolen bases. His on-base plus slugging percentage of .647 is the lowest of his career, with the exception of last season when he played just 17 games.

According to ESPN.com, the New York Yankees star has contributed a WAR of just 0.5 this year, which ranks 13th among American League shortstops. This means that 12 of the other 14 teams in the AL have a player who has been more valuable this year, yet Jeter is the one representing the AL at Target Field.

Neil Paine of FiveThirtyEight broke down the veteran’s season from a historical perspective, noting he is one of the worst All-Star starters of the past 40 years. Since 2000, only five players have been less productive before getting a starting nod at this prestigious event.

Interestingly, the worst player on the list is first-ballot Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. In reality, this is the best comparison for what Jeter is going through—a player who does not deserve the spot based on the season’s numbers but is nevertheless being rewarded of an extended career of achievement.

Before he retires at the end of the season, the 40-year-old legend is set to complete his 20th year in the major leagues, all with the Yankees. This feat alone deserves recognition in an age where so many players bounce around to different places in free agency.

Of course, Jeter has been quite good in that time, accumulating 3,408 hits, 14 All-Star appearances, five Gold Glove awards, one Rookie of the Year award and five World Series rings. Putting him into one extra All-Star Game is not the biggest crime, even if a player like Alexei Ramirez or Erick Aybar might be more deserving of a start.

However, the important thing to remember is that Jeter being in this game is not just for him; it is for everyone else involved. Fans might be tired of hearing about the fact that this will be his last appearance on this stage, but the players are certainly enjoying themselves.

National League starting pitcher Adam Wainwright discussed the honor it will be just to face Jeter in this matchup, saying, “I have been in the big leagues for nine years. I’ve never faced him. I’m very excited about it, just to say I faced the best. And he is undoubtedly one of the best to ever play his position, one of the greatest Yankees of all time,” via Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Yasiel Puig, who has become quite a star himself, also noted his excitement, via Bob Klapisch of The Record:

While the players turn into fans on the field, the actual fans will also be enjoying themselves. Whether you love Jeter or hate him, his appearance will certainly be more memorable than almost any other player on the field. Ripken’s final showing was undeserved, but he did create one of the top moments in All-Star Game history:

Additionally, there seems to be a universal respect for Jeter, which puts him in a class above others in the game. The latest Jordan commercial seems to capture this perfectly:

Even the biggest Red Sox/Orioles/Mets fans will be able to enjoy the moment that Jeter takes on the field on Tuesday night. Like everyone else, they will hope that something incredible happens.

The shortstop has created so many great plays over the past two decades. Although some of them might have been praised just a bit too much, they remain part of the history of baseball. If fate has anything to say about it, he will come through with one more big one.

By the numbers, Jeter should not even be in attendance at Target Field. However, we all know that the superstar deserves to be standing between second and third base on the big stage one last time.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.

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It can be difficult to break down Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game in a strategic manner. After all, these are teams molded by fans and feature talented players all lumped together, not carefully pieced together by a general manager.

Players may play unusual roles. They hit from new spots in the lineup. Starters become relievers. Closers become setup men. Up is down, left is right…you get the point.

But clear strengths do become apparent when you study the rosters closely. This year is no different.  

Two things really define the National League All-Stars: pitching and balance. 

The group of pitchers for this NL team is impressive. Just look at some of these numbers:

And let’s not forget about Craig Kimbrel, who has 29 saves and has struck out 62 batters in 37.2 innings pitched, or Aroldis Chapman,who has 21 saves and 60 strikeouts in 29.2 innings. The NL is stacked with talented arms. 

Players like Clayton Kershaw and Chapman come into the All-Star Game red hot. Check out these numbers from Chapman, via Jayson Stark of ESPN:

That’s nuts. 

The NL also has an extremely balanced starting lineup. Here’s their starting nine, via SportsCenter on Twitter:

Andrew McCutchen hitting first and Carlos Gomez hitting ninth essentially gives them two ridiculously talented leadoff hitters. Troy Tulowitzki and Giancarlo Stanton provide the pop. Yasiel Puig provides the entertainment. Paul Goldschmidt and Jonathan Lucroy are underrated. 

There isn’t an easy out on this roster, which should be the case seeing as this is an All-Star team. But this is a balanced, dangerous lineup, and the AL pitchers are going to have trouble with them. 

Speaking of the American League, their team has different strengths, namely power and depth. 

Their starting lineup is just absurd:

When you have Mike Trout, Robinson Cano, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Bautista, Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones making up the heart of your order, you’re virtually guaranteed to score some runs. 

No, the AL isn’t as balanced as the NL. Having Derek Jeter lead off—a player who wouldn’t be starting this game were he not a legend in his final season—potentially weakens them a bit, even if he might yet have some magic in that bat.

And even if his AL teammates are thrilled to be playing with him, including Trout, as he told Chris Haft of MLB.com:

“Just to be part of the same lineup and same clubhouse as [Jeter] is going to be special for me,” Trout said. “It’s going to be something to remember, to be a part of it and experience it firsthand.”

That’s because Trout, like most big leaguers, maintains unqualified admiration for Jeter. Like Jeter, Trout played shortstop and wore No. 2 at Millville (N.J.) Senior High School and didn’t switch to outfield until his senior year.

Trout was primarily a Phillies fan, “but I liked the way Jeter played,” he said. “The way he carries himself on the field, he’s a true professional.”

Along with their Murderer’s Row of starters, however, the AL team is also really deep. In most seasons, Alexei Ramirez would be starting at shortstop. Jose Altuve should be the starting second basemen, with all due respect to Cano. Jose Abreu can’t stop hitting home runs. Adrian Beltre is a stud. Yoenis Cespedes just won the Home Run Derby for the second year in a row. 

For all of the talented pitchers the NL can use throughout this game, the AL counters with just as many dangerous bats (and they aren’t exactly rolling out chopped liver on the mound, either). 

It makes for an interesting clash. It feels like a game that will either favor the NL if it’s a pitching duel or the AL if it’s a high-scoring affair. 

Both teams have their strengths. Now, we wait to see which strengths will win out. 

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The excitement surrounding the 20th annual MLB Home Run Derby has baseball fans of every team anticipating which of the contestants will steal the show this year.

The 2014 Home Run Derby takes place July 14 at Target Field in Minnesota.

With top sluggers like Jose Bautista, Troy Tulowitzki and Giancarlo Stanton taking part in the annual event, fans should expect some serious heavy hitting. Add in the new bracket format, and this will be a special showcase.

Here is a full list of participants and a focus on the player most likely to win.

Star to Watch: Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays

One of the biggest stars to grace the 2014 Home Run Derby is Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, and he will have a legitimate shot to steal the show by winning the entire event.

The Home Run Derby is set up perfectly for an effortless swinger like Bautista.

Since 2010, he has hit an incredible 169 home runs and still looks to be going strong, even at 33 years old. With 17 home runs this season already, the Blue Jays star will be looking to reach the 30-home run plateau once again.

While his offensive numbers have been impressive, it is the improving batting average and on-base percentage that has the veteran returning to his elite form. Now, he must translate that success to the Home Run Derby.

Bautista took to Twitter to thank the fans who voted him into the All-Star Game:

ESPN’s SportsCenter showcased the depth of Bautista’s American League team:

The reason Bautista is such a threat is his swing. He is not an overpowering presence on the field, but he knows how to keep his swing short and turn the power from his hips to the bat without losing any of the momentum.

One of the biggest reasons he is such a good home run hitter is the speed of his swing. At just 6’0” and 205 pounds, his size can only produce so much power. That’s where the quickness of his swing and the fact that he keeps it close to his body make him so dangerous in live-game action.

The hope is that Bautista will be able to translate his power to the softer batting practice-style pitching he will face during the Home Run Derby. This could make for a very interesting night.

Predicted Home Run Derby Finish: Winner

*Stats via MLB.com.

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Most fans will be looking forward to the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, but on Sunday, July 13, another exciting tradition will be rekindled during the MLB All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game.

Some of the biggest names in baseball history will join forces with some of the top personalities from other sports and from the world of entertainment in a celebrity softball game. With the event taking place in Minnesota, there is a local feel to the stars participating.

Here is the full list of participants and the star to watch on Sunday.

Star to Watch: Jim Thome

There are few baseball players to ever grace the major leagues who made an impact on more lives than former first baseman and designated hitter Jim Thome.

As a former member of the Minnesota Twins, Thome was a perfect fit for this celebrity softball game.

Thome only spent a year and a half with Minnesota, but like every team he played for, he became a fan favorite and an example of how to play baseball the right way. With country-born strength and a positive attitude, Thome was a great leader in any locker room.

KARE-TV Sports Director Eric Perkins talked about his excitement to see Thome in the softball game but pondered if he could be doing more during the festivities:

When asked about bringing back stars from the past, Twins President Dave St. Peter told Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com about the franchise’s efforts with its alumni:

I think the history and the tradition is always something that’s always been important to us. I think you try to accentuate that when you have opportunities such as Opening Day, the postseason or an All-Star Game. At the end of the day, it’s a celebration of baseball, but also about the history of the players in that town, and you can’t do that without the Olivas, or the Carews, or the Hrbeks or even the Radkes and Mientkiewiczs.

Thome has not played in the majors since 2012, but he put together an amazing career. He spent 22 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles and the Twins.

Over the course of his career, Thome belted 612 home runs, added another 1,699 RBI and made the All-Star team five times. The crowd will explode when Thome’s name is called Sunday, and it will be a feel-good moment for the franchise and the player.

Thome isn’t too far removed from his career, either, which will make him a very dangerous player in the softball game. While he is one of the most genuine people in the sport, he has a competitive side and will unleash it on the celebrity game.

It wouldn’t come as a surprise to see Thome put one in the seats for old time’s sake.

*Stats via MLB.com.

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Baseball is a sport steeped in tradition, and the 2014 edition of the MLB All-Star Game has the unenviable honor of trying to live up to the high standards of the annual event.

Fortunately for hardcore and casual fans alike, the rosters for both the American and National Leagues are stacked with elite hitters and dominant pitchers. The game should be a fierce battle with home-field advantage in the World Series on the line.

Here are the complete rosters for the AL and NL and a focus on the player whom baseball fans are most excited to see in action.

Player to Watch: Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

A cadre of pitchers could steal the show in the All-Star Game, and several hitters have the power to dominate the headlines, but no one possesses the game-changing abilities of Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen.

While many fans immediately think of his consistency and power at the plate, McCutchen is arguably the best outfielder in the sport. With a unique mixture of speed and awareness in the field, he can cover an incredible amount of ground and make breathtaking catches.

The Pirates’ official Twitter account talked about where he ranks amongst the all-time Pittsburgh greats:

That speed also helps him on the basepaths. McCutchen has racked up 15 stolen bases this season and looks to be on pace to meet his season average of 23. He may look to use his baserunning ability during the actual All-Star Game.

When asked about the honor of making the Midsummer Classic, McCutchen told Tom Singer of MLB.com about going with his teammates and being voted as a starter:

It’s definitely an honor and I’m happy I will have some guys accompanying me there…It takes us winning to get that recognition, and we’ve done that the last couple of years. It’s good to see. Being in the All-Star Game is enough in itself. Being No. 1 [in voting for outfielders] is a plus, really cool.

ESPN’s Stats and Info department shared a great image of just how hot McCutchen has been since June 1:

McCutchen picked up right where he left off last season. He has compiled a .321 batting average, 15 home runs, 59 RBI, 53 runs and a .419 on-base percentage in 91 games this season. He looks to be on pace to match or surpass almost all of his regular-season averages.

In his three previous All-Star Game appearances, though, McCutchen has only managed one hit in five at-bats. It could be time for the Pittsburgh star to buck the trend and take the game over for the National League.

With 46 extra-base hits in 2014, McCutchen has the ability to change the game with one swing of his bat.

Predicted stat line: 2 at-bats, 2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 run, 1 stolen base

*Stats via MLB.com.

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All-Star Week isn’t only for Major League Baseball veterans.

The 2014 Futures Game kicks off Sunday’s action at Target Field with many of the world’s most talented up-and-coming players set to take center stage.

According to Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com, 27 of the Top 100 Prospects will partake in the action, as the U.S. Team takes on the World Team. He also notes that of the 23 players who aren’t ranked, 20 of them are in their respective team’s Top 20 Prospects lists.

That’s a whole lot of young talent on one field.

So, which players should we be on the lookout for once the game commences? Let’s take a look.

Francisco Lindor

Lindor hails from Puerto Rico and will be taking the field for the World Team on Sunday.

He’s ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect on MLB.com, No. 1 shortstop and No. 1 prospect of the Cleveland Indians. Lindor was drafted by Cleveland in the first round in 2011 and currently plays for the Akron RubberDucks.

This year with Akron, Lindor is batting .282 with 89 hits, 11 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 45 RBI. A quick baserunner, he’s also accumulated 23 steals.

Lindor‘s speed makes him dangerous on defense as well. His instincts are phenomenal, and paired with his quickness and strong arm, he’s no stranger to turning double plays, having racked up 58 this year.

According to this tweet from the Eastern League, he’s on a major roll heading into the Futures Game:

Keep a keen eye on this potential future star.

Javier Baez

Baez has plenty in common with Lindor. Not only is he also from Puerto Rico and will be playing for the World Team at shortstop, but he was selected by the Chicago Cubs just one spot after Lindor in the 2011 draft.

Currently, Baez is MLB.com’s No. 9 overall prospect and No. 4 shortstop. He’s also the No. 1 prospect of the Cubs and currently plays for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.

This season, Baez has struggled at the plate a bit, as his average dipped to .240; however, his power is still very much on display. In 2014, he’s accumulated 74 hits, 18 doubles and 14 home runs while recording 53 RBI.

The shortstop has looked better recently, and perhaps a recent addition in Iowa sparked his surge, according to Josh Norris of Baseball America:

Baez doesn’t have a tremendous amount of speed—and may eventually be moved to third base—but his good arm and solid glove have allowed him to remain at shortstop for now.

Noah Syndergaard

Syndergaard is one of many talented pitchers on the U.S. Team who has a chance to see some time on the mound on Sunday.

Ranked as MLB.com’s No. 12 overall prospect, No. 4 right-handed pitcher and the New York Mets’ No. 1 prospect, Syndergaard‘s power is what allows him to excel on the mound.

The right-hander has a plus fastball that’s capable of reaching upward of 96 mph on a consistent basis. His power also shows through on his curve and changeup, which could lead to a nice future three-pitch repertoire.

Syndergaard has nice control over his pitches despite standing at a towering 6’6″ due to a repetitive delivery.

This season, he’s struggled a bit with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. He’s maintaining a 5.31 ERA in 16 starts, allowing 97 hits and 47 earned runs. However, his power on the mound has also been prevalent, as he’s struck out 82 batters over that span.

Robert Brender of SNY.tv tweeted some strong praise for the pitcher after a dominant performance earlier this month:

Expect to see Syndergaard as a front-line starter in the near future.

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There are many traditions in baseball that make it America’s pastime, but none have the history and excitement associated with the MLB All-Star Game. The 2014 edition of the Midsummer Classic will live up to the lofty expectations.

With many of the top players in the league taking the field at the same time, fans will be treated to an amazing battle between the best pitchers in baseball and the elite hitters in the sport.

Here are the full rosters for both the National and American leagues and predictions for the 2014 MLB-All Star Game.

Breaking Down the 2014 All-Star Game

While the hitters on both rosters will make it difficult for opposing pitchers to shine during the All-Star Game, the vast array of top hurlers on either team will be the ultimate difference-maker.

Fans will be expecting elite batters like Troy Tulowitzki, Andrew McCutchen and Yasiel Puig from the NL side and Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout and Jose Bautista from the AL side to dominate, but the pitching depth is even more impressive.

The key to victory for both teams will be the pitching.

On the American League side, look for starters like Yu Darvish, Felix Hernandez, Jon Lester and David Price to carry the team for most of the game. If the AL coaching staff can get two innings out of each elite pitcher, there will only be one inning for the relief pitchers to worry about.

While there is a strong cast of characters in the bullpen for the American League with Sean Doolittle, Greg Holland, Glen Perkins and Dellin Betances, the coaching staff would like to leave the ball in the hands of proven stars when possible.

As stellar as each reliever played to reach the All-Star Game, none have achieved the long-term success that will instill unquestioned confidence. Expect the AL to lean more on the starters than the relief pitchers.

Boston Red Sox manager and American League shot-caller John Farrell spoke about the importance of the game with Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com:

I will say having going through this the first time you’re handed an awful lot to make sure you include so it begins to narrow the selections quickly. You want to do what’s right for the individuals who’ve had great first halves of this season and then you look at what’s the best roster particularly when you look at the spare players or the extra players in event of a need late in a game. So that also factors into it as well. We have an obligation to do everything we can to win the game for home field advantage in October.

On the National League side, there is just as much pitching prowess. With bona fide stars like Johnny Cueto, Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Madison Bumgarner and Adam Wainwright all earning a spot on the roster, the NL coaching staff will be looking to get eight innings out of the top five starting pitchers.

Even if one or more of the starting pitchers falter, the NL has the superior bullpen. With anchors such as Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman and Francisco Rodriguez ready and willing to come in any time and dominate the opposing hitters, the American League has been put on notice.

The sheer offensive depth on each team will result in some offensive production, but fans shouldn’t expect a batting clinic during the 2014 All-Star Game. There is just too much skill on the mound for the score to get out of hand.

Expect the National League to use its bullpen advantage to stifle any momentum the AL builds and steal the show with the victory. All signs point to the NL having home-field advantage for the World Series.

Predicted Winner: National League, 5-3.

*Stats via MLB.com.

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With the 2014 Home Run Derby coming Monday, July 14—that’s less than a week away!—and most of the players participating having just been picked, it’s time to evaluate and grade the jobs done by Troy Tulowitzki and Jose Bautista, the captains who did said picking for the National and American Leagues, respectively, on Tuesday evening.

Before that, though, here’s a quick reminder that there are a few noteworthy changes this year: the field is expanding to 10 sluggers, the number of outs per hitter has been reduced from 10 to seven, and the competition will play out in a bracket format.

Oh, and the final two participants will be announced Thursday to round out each side with five hitters.

While it would have made all our dreams come true to get to see the likes of Jose Abreu, Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz and Edwin Encarnacion, among others, swing (and swing and swing) for the fences, invitations were declined and injuries were suffered.

That can’t be held against the captains too much, however—in particular Bautista, as that lot hails from the AL.

There are two quirky aspects of this derby field as it’s currently constituted. First, all eight contestants, including Tulowitzki and Bautista, hit from the right side. And second, only one has any previous derby experience, but at least it’s the winner of the event last year at Citi Field in New York.

Rather than evaluating Tulowitzki and Bautista as hitters themselves—it’s safe to say they pass with flying colors anyway—this is all about grading their abilities to coax intriguing and exciting names into the act of hitting as many balls out of Target Field as humanly possible next week.

The grades are based on factors both objective (number of career home runs, average distance of home runs hit this year) and subjective (Q rating).

Here are the grades of the six selections so far, listed in the order Bautista and Tulowitzki announced them on SportsCenter on Tuesday evening.

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