David Ortiz has told reporters that he'll be asking Red Sox teammate and fellow first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to join him on the American League's all-star Home Run Derby Team.
Ortiz also indicated that he'd be getting in touch with Toronto Blue Jays' right fielder/third baseman Jose Bautista to join the squad, as well, according to Paul Flannery at WEEI.com.
Ortiz' desired third choice, Mark Texeira, who has come on at an impressive pace since May and is now tied with Bautista for the league lead in home runs with 25, wasn't available because he didn't make the all-start team. Ortiz said that he's likely instead to reach out to either Texeira's Yankee teammate Robinson Cano or Texas Rangers' right fielder Josh Hamilton.
Hamilton left his mark on the Home Run Derby in its last appearance at old Yankee Stadium in 2008, belting an otherworldly 28 home runs in the first round alone, but he wasn't able to outlast Minnesota's Justin Morneau, who won the event.
Ortiz won last year's Home Run Derby, hitting 11 home runs in the final round to best former teammate Hanley Ramirez.