Ex-Guardians player to take part in Home Run Derby X competition

Ex-Cleveland Guardians star, Nick Swisher, to take part in Home Run Derby X

Nick Swisher was a star for the Cleveland Guardians for a brief moment in time. His enthusiasm and play helped elevate the Cleveland Guardians in 2013. His signing was the start of the current run the Guardians have been on. While he only helped the Guards get to the playoffs once in his three seasons here, each year he was a member of the team, they had a winning record.

Swisher was hurt a lot near the end and was eventually moved to the Braves in 2015 for nothing worth remembering. Yet, he still had that one year in Cleveland.

He retired after 2015 and that was supposed to be it. Except, he’s back. Not as a coach or even a player, but as a home run derby contestant.

Swisher will represent the New York Yankees in Major League Baseball’s half-baked attempt to boast the game. The new idea is called the Home Run Derby X, and will feature teams representing the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs. The four teams will be made up of four players;

A team “legend”, a female softball/baseball player called a “superstar”, a player from the club’s respective minor leagues, called a “rookie”, and a content creator, which is called a “Wild Card”.

The tournament structure will see these four-some teams compete in London, England, Seoul, South Korea, and Mexico City, Mexico.

That’s not all, as the home run “field” will have augmented measurements. Home plate will be on a stage, the pitching mound will be on a podium and there will be outfielders roaming around trying to catch the ball for points for their respective teams.

It’s baseball, minus any pitchers throwing above 70 and no infielders. Hitters will get 25 pitches to hit and can take no more than 10 more. So 35 total pitches for each participant.

There are more rules you can find out at the MLB.com website.

Who will be on Nick Swisher’s team?

It would be awesome if the nonobnoxious teams got a shot to do this. Who wouldn’t love to see Jim Thome rip some home runs into the outfield? Well, Thome isn’t getting his shot yet, but Swisher will represent the Yankees. On his team will be Erika Piancastelli and Stefani Aradillas as their “Superstars”, and Daniel Corral will be their “Wild Card”, no rookie has been announced yet for any of the teams.

The teams and players are below.

"New York YankeesNick Swisher, MLB LegendErika Piancastelli, SuperstarStefania Aradillas, Superstar (Mexico only)Daniel Corral, Wild Card"

"Boston Red SoxJonny Gomes, MLB LegendPaige Halstead, SuperstarLiv Cooke, Wild Card"

"Chicago CubsGeo Soto, MLB LegendAlex Hugo, SuperstarSpencer Owen, Wild Card"

"Los Angeles DodgersAdrián González, MLB LegendAshton Lansdell, SuperstarYoongy Kwak, Wild Card"