Brown OK with being passed over for Home Run Derby

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown said he absolutely would participate in the 2013 Chevrolet Home Run Derby next Monday at Citi Field, if asked.

But National League captain David Wright chose Carlos Gonzalez, Bryce Harper and Michael Cuddyer instead. So Brown, who is second in the NL with 23 home runs, will have to watch the competition from the sideline.

"Not really," Brown said, when asked if he was disappointed. "I'm going to the All-Star Game. That's the big thing. I'm not really worried about the Derby. I'll be out there supporting and taking a lot of pictures. It's part of the game. There's a lot of big-name guys."

Wright said he picked up a newspaper to see who led the league in home runs and picked Gonzalez. He said he then honored the fan vote and selected Harper. But he also said he picked Cuddyer because they are longtime friends from Virginia.

"I really am sorry that Carlos Beltran, Domonic Brown, [Paul] Goldschmidt, [Joey] Votto, [Pedro] Alvarez [weren't selected] -- they were all obviously on the original list," Wright said. "The three guys I asked to do it all said yes and jumped at it.

"It's a lot tougher than you would think it is. You don't want to leave anybody out and there are obviously guys I left out. I apologize for that, but some people had to be left out."