The 2012 Home Run Derby is now hours away.
Kaufmann Stadium will host the home run competition tonight at 8 p.m. EDT.
Robinson Cano defends his 2011 title and will probably end up competiting against one of the players he selected himself.
Cano, who is the American League captain, has Mark Trumbo, Prince Fielder and Jose Bautista in his team.
Those guys have a combined for a total of 84 home runs during the regular season. Cano has 20, Trumbo has 22, Fielder has 15 and Bautista leads Major League Baseball with 27 home runs.
However, do not let the regular season numbers fool you. Last year, Bautista disappointed in the derby and only hit four home runs, which was not good enough for the second round.
Another player with a disappointing performance in the 2011 derby is the captain of the National League Home Run Derby squad in 2012, Matt Kemp.
Although he only hit 12 homers in 2012, Kemp will participate in the home run derby.
Accompanying Kemp will be Carlos Beltran, Carlos Gonzalez and new addition, Andrew McCutchen.
This will be the first time any of these three sluggers participate in the competition. McCutchen was added after Miami Marlin slugger, Giancarlo Stanton, needed surgery on his knee. McCutchen has hit 18 home runs this season.
Beltran has hit 20, while Gonzalez has 17 in the season.
In 2012, these N.L. sluggers have combined for 67 homers.
The advantage is clearly on the American League's side.
Will Cano indeed defend his title? Or will a new home run king be crowned after tonight's competition?
Catch the action on ESPN.
