Top sluggers set to compete in Triple-A Home Run Derby

Carlos Franco, Chad Huffman, and Joey Meneses of the International League along with Zach Borenstein, A.J. Reed, and Patrick Wisdom of the Pacific Coast League have been named the six Triple-A All-Stars that will participate in the 2018 Triple-A Home Run Derby in Columbus, Ohio. The Derby will take place at the end of the Triple-A Skills Competition on Monday, July 9 at Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers. One of the International League's most homer-friendly ballparks, it will also be the site of the 2018 Huntington Bank Triple-A All-Star Game, presented by Gildan, two days later on July 11.

The field of six sluggers each hope to be the one to capture the 2018 Triple-A Home Run Derby Championship Belt, to be presented on the field by Columbus-native James "Buster" Douglas, the former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world.
Lehigh Valley's Joey Meneses is tied for the IL lead so far this season with fifteen home runs, which represents a career-high for the All-Star first baseman. Carlos Franco of the Gwinnett Stripers isn't far behind, currently tied for 4th in the circuit with eleven roundtrippers. They will be joined by a former Columbus Clipper, Toledo's Chad Huffman . It will be Huffman's third appearance in the Triple-A Home Run Derby, an event he won in 2009 in Portland, Oregon.
The PCL's 2017 home run king, A.J. Reed, will be swinging for the fences at Huntington Park. The two-time winner of the Minor League Baseball Joe Bauman Award for leading the minors in homers has already clubbed 19 long balls this season for Fresno. Reed is tied for 2nd in the League this year along with Zach Borenstein of Las Vegas, who has 19 home run in a PCL-best 84 games played. Cardinals farmhand Patrick Wisdom finished tied for 4th in the PCL in long balls in 2017 with 31, and back with Memphis again this season he has crushed another dozen.
The 2018 Triple-A All-Star Skills Competition and Home Run Derby will be available for free live streaming at MiLB.com on Monday, July 9 beginning at 6:30 p.m. EDT. The event is part of the 10th season celebration for Huntington Park that will include hosting the 2018 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game in September. Fans who are interested in more information on the events, or would like to purchase tickets, are encouraged to visit the official website of the host Columbus Clippers (clippersbaseball.com).
Video: Fresno's Reed hits three-run homer
Video: 51s' Borenstein lifts solo homer