SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- Officials from the Caribbean Series are finalizing an alternative set of participants for the tournament's first Home Run Derby to be held on Wednesday because it appears Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, Seattle's Robinson Cano, and Boston's David Ortiz will not be allowed to participate for what officials are describing as "insurance reasons."
According to sources, the event's promoters did not ask the players' teams, Major League Baseball or the Major League Baseball Players Association for permission to use the players. Cabrera, Ortiz, and Cano are expected to be in attendance and on the field Wednesday night for the event but will not swing.
The original lineup announced last month was set to feature Cabrera, Cano, Ortiz, former Major Leaguer Vladimir Guerrero and Cuban slugger Alfredo Despaigne. The new home run derby lineup is tentatively scheduled to include Guerrero and Despaigne, along with Puerto Rico's Kennys Vargas, Venezuela's Felix Perez, Mexico's Cyle Hankerd and Cuba's Yosvani Alarcon.