Home Run Derby 2012: Young Stars Will Light Up Loaded Field

Many well-known stars will be competing at the 2012 Home Run Derby, but the younger players are the ones who will steal the spotlight.

Prince Fielder and Robinson Cano have both shown the ability to crush homers at the derby. Other players like Jose Bautista and Matt Kemp have become household names in the past few years with their ability to hit the ball out of the park.

The oldest player in the field, Carlos Beltran, is having a rejuvenation this season and looks like an MVP over the first half.

However, fans need to start learning the names of three of the great young hitters in the game in Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Gonzalez and Mark Trumbo. This week will be their chance to make themselves known.

Gonzalez is the type of player that will struggle at a Home Run Derby because he is too good of a hitter. Unlike Fielder, a big power hitter, the Rockies star hits balls to all fields and does it for a high average. 

This season he has a .336 batting average, equal to the mark he set in 2010. He is a 20-20 threat every season and is one of the best young hitters in baseball. Bovada has him listed as the biggest longshot to win the derby, but he might be too good to stop.

Trumbo is finally getting the respect he deserves this year after an outstanding rookie campaign. Along with rookie Mike Trout, he has been carrying the Los Angeles Angels this season as one of the best young power hitters in baseball.

When he gets a hold of the ball, he crushes it. Trumbo's home runs travel an average of over 420 feet. The major league average is 398.6.

His pure power might only be matched by 22-year-old Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins slugger is one of the strongest players in baseball and is usually worth the price of admission.

Stanton has hit four home runs this season that traveled over 450 feet. Earlier this season, he broke the scoreboard in the team's brand new ballpark. There is not a stadium in the world that can contain his long ball.

The trio of Stanton, Trumbo and Gonzalez are three of the best hitters in baseball, and they are all 26 years old or younger. The shame is that most baseball fans do not know who they are yet.

After the Home Run Derby, there is no way anyone will be able to forget them.

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