MLB Home Run Derby 2011: Justin Upton and 5 Young Hitters Who Could Compete

It's not too many years down the road when youngsters like Justin Upton are playing in the Home Run Derby.

This year's crop of participants are all established veterans, the youngest being 26-year-old NL home run leader Matt Kemp 

Here are five guys aged 25 or younger who could very soon find themselves competing in the Home Run Derby.

Asdrubal Cabrera

Cleveland's young shortstop has a ton of pop for a middle infielder.

Aged just 25, Cabrera has 14 homers and 22 doubles on the year. He has established himself as the premier American League offensive shortstop. 

He could very soon challenge Troy Tulowitzki as the best slugging shortstop in the major leagues.

Freddie Freeman

Atlanta's Freddie Freeman is having a pretty solid rookie year.

At only 21 years of age, Freeman has amassed 12 big flies in 293 at-bats.

A 20-home run season is nothing to sneeze at, especially for a rookie. We should expect big numbers from Freeman as he continues to mature.

Jay Bruce

Jay Bruce has been tantalizing fans with his huge power potential for three years and has finally started putting it all together.  

In his age 24 season, Bruce has smashed 19 first-half homers and could potentially reach 40 for the year if he can ever so slightly increase his pace in the second half.

Bruce has gotten better slowly but surely since his debut in 2008 and could develop into one of the league's best power hitters over the next few years.

Justin Upton

Justin Upton has the kind of power that makes scouts gawk.

He had a great year in 2009, when he swatted 26 homers and batted .300 but saw both numbers decline last year.

The former first-round pick is back on track again in 2011, hitting .299 with 14 first-half homers. 

Upton is in his fifth major league season at an age when most guys are making their big league debuts. There is a bright future ahead of him, and baseball fans all hope he can unlock all of his potential.

Mike Stanton

Mike Stanton will soon be putting up truly absurd power numbers.

As a 20-year-old rookie last year, Stanton blasted 20 homers in 100 games for the Marlins.

This year he has hit 17 big flies in his first 81 games and is on pace to break 30 home runs at just 21 years of age.

We hope that Stanton keep improving because he could be one of the most exciting power hitters of his generation.