Home Run Derby 2013: Players Who Should Have Been in Power-Hitting Field

The 2013 Home Run Derby is just days away as Major League Baseball fans anxiously await the All-Star break festivities, highlighted by Monday night's power-hitting competition at Citi Field in New York.

Eight of the sport's top home run hitters are set to compete this July, including two-time Derby winner Prince Fielder, who enters as the defending champion after going yard 28 times in Kansas City a year ago.

But what about the stars who didn't make the cut?

Below we'll take a closer look at a trio of players who were deserving of being included in this summer's field.

*Qualified players are each averaging at least 3.1 plate appearances for every game their teams have played. 

David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox, DH

Despite his age, Boston's David Ortiz has been playing some of the best baseball of his career this season.

The 37-year-old ranks inside the top 15 in the majors with 19 home runs this season and is batting .327 with a slugging percentage of .629 (which ranks third among qualified players in the majors, behind Chris Davis and Miguel Cabrera). Big Papi's current batting average is the highest it's been since 2007, when the Red Sox went on to win the World Series.

Meanwhile, you have to go all the way back to 2006 to find the last season that Ortiz finished with a slugging percentage of .629 or better.

But in addition to leading all designated hitters in home runs in 2013, Ortiz is a fan favorite around the globe and a past Derby winner, making him the perfect power-hitting candidate.

Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks, 1B

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Paul Goldschmidt is improving year after year in the bigs. One season after smashing 20 home runs and recording 82 RBI, the 25-year-old is on pace to hit 30 or more homers in 2013.

Goldschmidt has 21 dingers for Arizona this season and is batting .313 with a slugging percentage of .561, which ranks sixth in the majors among qualified players.

To put Goldschmidt's production into perspective, he's tied with Mike Trout in slugging percentage this year but has six more home runs and 18 more RBI than the L.A. Angels stud despite having 17 fewer at-bats this season.

Goldschmidt may not receive a ton of love playing out West, but with 21 home runs already this season, the underrated first baseman would have been a worthy contender in this year's power-hitting field.

Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers, 3B

Quietly, Texas Rangers veteran Adrian Beltre is on pace to bat above .300 for the third time in the past four seasons and just the fourth time in his career.

The 34-year-old third baseman has gone yard 20 times this season and is batting .318 with a slugging percentage of .544, which ranks inside the top 10 among qualified players. Beltre has been incredibly effective this season, putting up superb numbers and ranking among the best power hitters in the majors.

As a three-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger Award winner and the 2004 NL home run champion, Beltre certainly has the credentials to warrant a spot in this year's Home Run Derby. 

He may not be on pace to crush 48 homers like he did a decade ago in L.A., but there's no doubt that he's playing excellent power-hitting baseball this July.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.