Nick Swisher is bringing the excitement to HRDX
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The first ever FTX MLB Home Run Derby X is about to take off on Saturday, when four teams -- the Yankees, Red Sox Dodgers and Cubs -- step up to the plate at London's Crystal Palace Park. Four big league legends will be joined by four women's baseball and softball superstars, four young players from Britain's National Team and four Wild Cards, who are athletes in other sports that are trying to become baseball stars.
Not sold on it yet? Well, then let Nick Swisher, baseball's most enthusiastic and energetic personality persuade you. Swisher appeared on MLB Network on a gorgeous Thursday afternoon in London to explain what he's looking forward to at the event.
"Being able to be over here in London in front of a fan base that we may not see all that often, to be able to bring the excitement of a home run derby right to their front doorstep -- I think it's really going to go over great," Swisher said. "The weather has been absolutely fantastic. We are expecting an unbelievable weekend, a lot of fun, a lot of personality. And hopefully we gain a lot of new fans."
As for why he agreed to take part in the tour, which will be making stops in Seoul and Mexico City later this fall, well, his answer was simple.
"Major League Baseball asked ... and I said, 'Yes, absolutely!'" Swisher said. "At the end of the day, you just gotta be grateful. Grateful for the opportunity to come over here, play the game, to put smiles on kids faces -- at the end of the day, that's what I'm trying to do. I know that's what Jonny Gomes is trying to do. Adrián González, I mean the dude retired like three weeks ago, so you know he's ready for something like this. Geo [Soto] has been absolutely awesome. So, I think just for all of us, man, we're excited to get out there, get the crowd going, put some smiles on people's face and get this thing going."
Not only will there be the baseball on display, but there will be Instagramable food -- both English and ballpark-inspired -- merch you can't get anywhere else and music from DJ's and headlining artist AJ Tracey.
If you can't make it to the event in London, have no fear: we'll be streaming the whole thing on MLB.com, MLB's social channels and TikTok, and we'll even have a liveblog filled with instant analysis, too. Click here for more information.