The Home Run Derby is the second-most well known component of the annual All-Star break and as always, takes place on the Monday before the Midsummer Classic. This year's Home Run Derby will feature the now-standard format of four-man teams from the American League and National League slugging it out until one winner emerges. The San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics representatives will be on-hand taking in the festivities.
The National League team will consist entirely of outfielders and will be captained by Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp, who is out of the All-Star Game proper as he still nurses a hamstring injury. He will be joined by Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies, old familiar face Carlos Beltran of the St. Louis Cardinals and new familiar face Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who is replacing Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins.
On the American League side, defending New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano will be joined by 2009 Derby winner Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers, Mark Trumbo of the Los Angeles Angels and Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays.
The 2012 Home Run Derby begins at 5 p.m. PT on Monday night. It will be televised on ESPN.
For more on the Giants, head over to McCovey Chronicles. For more on the A's, check out Athletics Nation. For complete coverage of the All-Star Game and all things MLB, check out Baseball Nation.
