Outfielders Bryce Harper of the Nationals and Mike Trout of the Angels have declined to participate in the 2016 Home Run Derby at Petco Park as part of the All-Star Game festivities, per reports from Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post and Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times, respectively.
Harper said he doesn’t want to participate until the Derby is hosted at Nationals Park in 2018. He last participated in 2013, advancing to the finals where he lost to Yoenis Cespedes, then of the Athletics.
Trout has yet to participate in a Home Run Derby. He said after declining last year’s invitation that he would “eventually” join. We’ll have to wait for 2017 at the very least.
