Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

A's slugger Matt Olson to compete in 2021 Home Run Derby

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 7/6/21

Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson wants to celebrate his first All-Star appearance in style.

Olson took to Twitter Tuesday to announce he's competing in next Monday's Home Run Derby at Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies:

Excited to announce I’ll be participating in the 2021 @mlb Home Run Derby! pic.twitter.com/8pXKoWjI5g
— Matt Olson (@mattolson21) July 6, 2021

According to the MLB website, Olson will attempt to become the third player in franchise history to win the Derby. Mark McGwire achieved the feat in 1992, and Yoenis Cespedes went back-to-back in 2013 and 2014.

Per ESPN stats, Olson is currently tied for ninth in the league with 20 homers, and he's 12th overall with a .552 slugging percentage. He will compete against Colorado shortstop Trevor Story, Baltimore Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini, Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, Los Angeles Angels two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, and defending champion Pete Alonso of the New York Mets in Monday's Derby.

Two more players will join the field at some point before Monday's festivities:

.@MattOlson21 brings the field to 6 in the #HRDerby.

Who will be the final 2 contestants? pic.twitter.com/875DGVULB6
— MLB (@MLB) July 6, 2021

Zac Wassink is a football and futbol aficionado who is a PFWA member and is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment. Erik Lamela and Eli Manning apologist. Chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. Whoops. You can find him on Twitter at @ZacWassink.

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