Cruz, 26, will join Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. as the latest participants in the annual slugging contest.

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz has launched some of the hardest-hit balls since Major League Baseball started keeping track of exit velocity 2015. He’ll get a chance to show that skill to a national audience when he participates in the Home Run Derby on Monday,

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, center, celebrates with Ke'Bryan Hayes (13) after both scored on his two-run home run off New York Mets pitcher Dedniel Núñez during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh,