Chicago Cubs: North Side All-Stars put on a show in Washington, D.C.

From the much-hyped Home Run Derby to Tuesday night’s All-Star Game, the Chicago Cubs representatives did not disappoint in Washington, D.C.

Each year the festivities of the Major League Baseball All-Star game provides much excitement. There are so many events and special appearances during All-Star Week, it makes it difficult not to enjoy it even if you consider yourself just a casual fan.

This year’s All-Star Game provided an extra ounce of excitement with it. Why?  The Chicago Cubs not only sent three of their own to the Midsummer Classic, but also helped give some oomph with the addition of two entries into the Home Run Derby.

So while Chicago may not have boasted more than half the National League starting lineup as they did two years ago, this might have been even better. Jon Lester, making his fifth All-Star appearance, got to watch as Willson Contreras and Javier Baez took it all in for the first time.

Chicago Cubs: Javier Baez and his All-Star adventure

An exciting prospect for the Cubs, and fans alike, Báez made the Cubs and Puerto Rico proud in the Derby. The dynamic nature of Báez certainly made for a fun time for all. Despite a first-round exit, Baez still turned heads with his moonshots.

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Báez faced off against Los Angeles Dodgers power-hitting first baseman Max Muncy in round one. Choosing his brother as the person to pitch to him, it took Báez a little bit of time to get a groove going.

After starting slow out of the gate with just three home runs in the first minute, Báez displayed that power everyone knows he has, mashing one nearly three-quarters of the way up the left-field bleachers with an estimated distance of 479 feet, finishing as the longest bomb of the night.

Statcast measured it with an exit velocity of 107 miles per hour. Báez finished his night with 16 total home runs, losing to Muncy by a single home run. Needless to say, still an impressive showing from the most electric player in baseball. Báez also started for the National League in the All-Star Game, finishing 1-for-3 with a single. Quite the adventure for the best second baseman in baseball.

Chicago Cubs: Kyle Schwarber nearly wins it all

Schwarber found himself on the opposite side of the bracket from Báez to begin the night. He faced off against Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman. Needless to say, the matchup did not disappoint.

Schwarber showed off his manpower by mashing many home runs which traveled at least 440 feet and beyond, including one which went 450 feet, into the third deck at Nationals Park. Below is an interactive graphic which displays all of Schwarber’s blasts. In his first round matchup, Schwarber also became the guy to hit the hardest ball, traveling at 115 miles per hour, according to Statcast.

https://twitter.com/darenw/status/1019043460341534726

In his second-round matchup, Schwarber turned it up and went bonkers. Philadelphia slugger Rhys Hoskins led off the round with 20 dingers of his own. Schwarber, who struggled out of the gate, needlessly tried to play catchup. Thankfully, he did that and then some.

Schwarber walked it off, before resorting to his thirty-second round bonus, hammering a 425-foot bomb wrapping just inside the foul pole, his fifth home run in a matter of half a minute. Excitingly, Schwarber found himself into the finals.

Taking on the hometown hero

The finals pitted Schwarber against hometown hero Bryce Harper. How apropos it was to see Harper in the finals, as his dad pitched to him. After tirelessly mashing home runs all evening, Schwarber put up a big total of eighteen in the finals, beginning with a 453-foot upper deck shot. He earned another bonus after hitting seven more 440-foot home runs, allowing him to reach his number.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be, however, as Harper walked it off in his own dramatic fashion. When it was all said and done, Schwarber finished his night with the highest home run total of the entire derby, swatting 55 total big flies across the three rounds.