Every year, the home run derby is loaded with power hitters. Guys like Prince Fielder, Jose Bautista, Yoenis Cespedes, and Kris Bryant -- just to name a few. Well this year, there seems to have been pact forming between a few pitchers who want to participate, perhaps in a strictly "pitchers-only derby". It's well known around baseball that pitchers are normally well-below average at the plate, but there's occasionally a handful of pitchers who put up decent at bats, and occasionally knock a ball or two out of the park. Damn you, Madison Bumgarner.
The Rockies haven't had a pitcher hit a home run in a game this year, so it's safe to say they wouldn't have any participants if this derby were to happen next month. But let's say we were able to bring back any past Rockies pitcher, who would be the best candidate to participate?
Mike Hampton
To start his career, Mike Hampton hit just .231 with zero homers over his first 372 at bats between the Astros and Mets. But when he was signed by the Rockies prior to the 2001 season, he took advantage of the pre-humidor days and hit seven home runs his first year in Denver. On top of that, he notched 23 hits and had an OPS of .891 over 86 plate appearances. The next year, his final one in Denver, he kept on raking, hitting three more homers and collecting a total of 22 hits. His final home run total of ten is a Rockies pitcher record.
Brian Bohanon
Bohanon spent ten years in the majors -- five of them in the American League -- before he came to Colorado. Just like his teammate Hampton, he found some success at the plate when he joined the Rockies. In 155 at bats, Bohanon hit three long balls, good for second all-time for Rockies pitchers.
(Unfortunately, this was the only video I could find of him hitting)
Jason Jennings
Jason Jennings, arguably the greatest pre-humidor Rockies pitcher, currently sits at third on the list with two home runs. Jennings managed to hit one of his bombs during his major league debut.
There are five other pitchers tied with Jennings with two home runs; Denny Neagle, Kevin Millwood, Alex White, Armando Reynoso, and Marvin Freeman.
There are 18 more pitchers in Rockies history who have hit a home run:
Darren Oliver
Bill Swift
Roger Bailey
Kyle Kendrick
Jhoulys Chacin
Drew Pomeranz
Curtis Leskanic
Chris Rusin
Gabe White
Masato Yoshii
Jordan Lyles
Kevin Ritz
Darren Holmes
Mark Thompson
Denny Stark
Shawn Chacon
Jason Hammel
Jamey Wright
Kyle Kendrick's moonshot was the most recent.
With that being said, vote below for which Rockies pitcher you'd send to the possible 2016 "Pitchers Home Run Derby."