Texas Rangers slugger Adolis García is headed to the Home Run Derby

If the Texas Rangers are going to host the All-Star Game Home Run Derby, they might as well participate, too.

Adolis García may take the rest of the All-Star break off, but the ALCS MVP agreed to join the derby field on Monday.

García, who hit his 17th homer of the season Tuesday to give the Rangers a 5-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels, becomes the seventh member of the eight-man field. García, with 67 career homers at Globe Life Field, is the all-time home run leader in the stadium. He also hit four homers at home in last year’s playoff run, including a walkoff blast to win Game 1 of the World Series.

He will be paired against Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson in the first round. The 23-year-old Henderson is second in the American League with 27 home runs.

García is the only participant who is not playing in Tuesday’s game. MLB has traditionally sought to have a player from the home team participate in the derby. Marcus Semien is the only Rangers position player to make the AL All-Star team.

While it is a bit unusual for a player not in the game to participate in the derby, it is not unprecedented. In 2021, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, who did not make the team, participated, then went out and defended the title he won in 2019.

García is currently tied for 13th in the AL in homers, but currently has more homers than two other competitors – Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. (15) and Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm (11).

García has been in a prolonged slump since the start of May. He is slashing .177/.246/.336/.582 with nine homers in 220 at-bats.

García participated in the derby in 2023 in Seattle, losing in the first round to close friend Randy Arozarena, 24-17. García struggled in the second half of the season after the All-Star Game, but there was not a drop-off in home run power. He actually averaged a homer more frequently (every 12.94 at-bats) after the All-Star Game than in the first half (15.12).

This will be the fourth consecutive year in which a Ranger has participated in the derby. Before García, Corey Seager lost in the first round at Dodger Stadium in 2022 and Joey Gallo lost in the first round in 2021.

No Ranger has won the Home Run Derby since Juan Gonzalez beat Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993 at Baltimore’s Camden Yards.

Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.