Madison Bumgarner wants to let loose with his bat.
The San Francisco Giants ace told ESPN's Buster Olney on Sunday in St. Louis that he's itching for a spot in the Home Run Derby this July in San Diego, and proved it by mashing a few offerings into the upper deck during batting practice.
It isn't a ridiculous request: in the last two seasons, Bumgarner has led all pitchers in home runs and is currently tied atop this year's leaderboard with New York Mets starter Noah Syndergaard:
| Pitcher | Team | HR |
|---|---|---|
| Bumgarner | Giants | 2 |
| Syndergaard | Mets | 2 |
| Arrieta | Cubs | 1 |
| Cole | Pirates | 1 |
| Colon | Cubs | 1 |
| Maeda | Dodgers | 1 |
| Wainwright | Cardinals | 1 |
Bumgarner is also comparable with two of the game's biggest superstars, Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, with his incredible pop.
Yes, it’s true.
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) June 2, 2016
We can’t believe it either. (h/t @theaceofspaeder) pic.twitter.com/0twG75CDiE
Giants skipper Bruce Bochy, though, doesn't want to risk injuring his star arm.
"No, to be serious, I couldn't let him do it," Bochy told Olney. "We couldn't let him do it."
We'll keep dreaming then.
(Video courtesy: MLB.com)
