With only one player ever cracking the final round of the Home Run Derby, the Astros have not had success in Major League Baseball’s most exciting contest of the summer. Lance Berkman put on a show for the home crowd back in 2004, but other than that, the Houston performances have been pretty bleak. Tonight, Alex Bregman looks to snap that trend by hitting a lot of line drives to left field. Overall, it will be a tough task for Bregman, as he’ll have to get through Kyle Schwarber in the first round and then potentially upset the home favorite, Bryce Harper, in the championship round. So far this season, Bregman has clubbed 20 home runs in 96 games, taking advantage of the Crawford Boxes in Minute Maid Park for a fair share of those long balls. Although the left field wall in Nationals Park is significantly lower, the distance is further by about 22 feet. Down the line to left field at MMP at 315 feet, while Nationals Park is 337 feet down the left field line. Overall, it should be a fun evening in our nation’s capitol. The Astros certainly do not have a participant in the Home Run Derby every season, so make sure to watch and enjoy tonight. You can watch the Home Run Derby on ESPN starting at 7:00 p.m. CDT.<doc-sep>The Home Run Derby is Monday night, and an Astros player will participate in it for the first time in 10 years. Alex Bregman's career-high 20 home runs have landed him as the No. 4 seed in this year's derby.Bregman will face off against Kyle Schwarber from the Chicago Cubs. If Bregman comes out on top, he will be the first player in franchise history to win the derby.This is the fifth Astros player to participate in the Home Run Derby. Bregman joins the exclusive list of Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman, Moises Alou and Glenn Davis.History has not been on the Astros' side in this event. No one has won the Home Run Derby out of the group and Berkman is the only player who reached the finals (2004).While other Astros haven't had the best of luck, hopefully they'll push for Bregman to be victorious.<doc-sep>EMBED >More News Videos Alex Bregman thanks his Derby pitcher, Astros bullpen pitcher Javier Bracamonte, in Spanish HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Alex Bregman made the most of his Home Run Derby debut in Washington on Monday night, falling one blast shy of tying Kyle Schwarber of the Chicago Cubs in the first round of the single elimination tournament.After Schwarber impressed with 16 home runs, Bregman had to follow to either better the mark or tie it to force a hit-off.With about 45 seconds left of his four minutes at the plate, Bregman tried to tie Schwarber with long-balls under the wire. All of the blasts from thereafter fell short.Even in a losing effort, Bregman showed power and got the love of his fellow Astros All-Stars who were cheering him on.And in a touching gesture, Bregman, who has been working on learning the Spanish language, thanked the man who delivered his pitches, Astros bullpen pitcher Javier Bracamonte.Earlier in the day, Bregman spoke to the media about how he feels about not only competing in his first Derby, but also about representing the American League in a field comprising seven other National League sluggers. "I've been nervous about it since I woke up this morning," said Bregman. "With that being said, I'm looking forward to it, though. It's going to be fun and exciting. "What has been fun and exciting for Astros fans is seeing Bregman become the clutch difference-maker for the defending World Series champs.Bregman has been involved in four walk-off game-winning plays this season, including a bizarre hit and error last week against the Athletics. Of course, no one can forget his walk-off hit to win Game 5 of last year's World Series.Bregman is also producing a career season for the long ball. He sits at 20 home runs on the year, which is already a career high. He had 19 homers last regular season.Despite nerves, one of his teammates thought there wouldn't be too much trouble when he steps into the box Monday night. "He says anytime anybody tries to offer him advice, he says, 'I try to hit home runs in (batting practice) anyway," said Astros pitcher Justin Verlander. "So it's no different."<doc-sep>
For the first time in 10 years, the Astros will have a participant in the Home Run Derby. In multiple respects – namely, power and personality – there couldn't be a better Astros player than Alex Bregman chosen to take part in Monday night's festivities at Nationals Park. Bregman leads the Astros with a career-high 20 home runs and as he's shown over and over again in the dugout, on the field - and even on a plane, apparently - he's also the team leader in swag. TEXAS SPORTS NATION: What Alex Bregman's gambling odds look like in HR Derby "I'm expecting him to win it," fellow Astros All-Star George Springer said Sunday. "I got to take my boy ... I'm rooting for him." For those that haven't watched the Home Run Derby in a few years, the contest has been tweaked to a bracket format. Bregman enters the eight-man field as the No. 4 seed and will face off against No. 5 Kyle Schwarber of the Cubs with each player getting four minutes to hit as many home runs as possible. The winner advances to face either the Brewers' Jesus Aguilar (the No. 1 seed) or the Phillies' Rhys Hoskins in the semifinals. The Astros have had a participant in 10 Home Run Derbies over the years and only Lance Berkman – smashing home runs over the Minute Maid Park railroad tracks in 2004 – advanced as far as the finals. No Astros player has ever won the Home Run Derby. Browse through the photos above for a look at how each Astros player has done in the Home Run Derby.