Cody Bellinger is officially competing in the 2017 T-Mobile Home Run Derby next Monday at Marlins Park in Miami.
Bellinger previously said he had been invited to participate in the Derby, but was holding off on accepting until he received confirmation his father, Clay, a former Yankees outfielder now working as a firefighter in Gilbert, Ariz., could get time off work to pitch to him.
The Dodgers rookie was announced among the eight-player field for the event, which is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT on ESPN. He joins Giancarlo Stanton, Justin Bour and Charlie Blackmon from the National League. Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Miguel Sano and Mike Moustakas will compete for the American League.
Bellinger was already headed to Miami for the July 11 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. He was named to the NL team Sunday alongside teammates Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Corey Seager. All four players were selected via player balloting. Third baseman Justin Turner could soon join them as one of five candidates for the Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote. Voting ends at 1 p.m. PT Thursday.
Despite not making his big league debut until April 25, Bellinger leads the NL with 24 home runs and a .624 slugging percentage. The two-time NL Player of the Week recipient is the first Dodgers rookie with six multihomer games and he's one shy of tying the MLB rookie record set by Mark McGwire with the A's in 1987.