Sluggers to compete in Triple-A derby

Brock Peterson, Johnny Monell, and Matt Davidson of the Pacific Coast League and Chris Colabello, Mauro Gomez, and Ernesto Mejia of the International League have been named the six participants for the 2013 IGT Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby. The Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 15th at Aces Ballpark in Reno, Nevada at 7:05 p.m. PT.

Peterson of the Memphis Redbirds leads the PCL with 20 home runs this season and ranks second in RBI with 63. Johnny Monell of the Fresno Grizzlies has 15 blasts this season, which is tied for the most in the league by a catcher. The hometown favorite will be Reno's Matt Davidson, who has 12 home runs and is also the youngest participant at just 22 years of age.

Rochester's Colabello who is in just his second year of affiliated ball has already eclipsed his career-high for home runs in a season with 21. Gomez of the Buffalo Bisons is the reigning IL MVP and leads all of Triple-A with 24 long balls. Mejia of the Gwinnett Braves was the 2012 IL Rookie of the Year and currently has 21 four-baggers on the season.

The 2013 IGT Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby will showcase the three PCL and three IL All-Stars as well as Kody Reynolds of McQueen High School in Reno, Nevada. Reynolds advanced from a field of 16 high school hitters who competed for the spot in the derby over three rounds held on April 28th, June 2nd and July 3rd.

Valentino Pascucci of the Buffalo Bisons was crowned as the 2012 Triple-A All-Star Home Run Derby champ last year when he hit 22 home runs in front of a crowd of 17,224 at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, NY.