The Oakland Athletics have a catcher who is mashing home runs at an elite clip. Shea Langeliers already has 20 homers this season, which ties him for ninth in all of MLB. Five of those above him are in the American League. On paper, he looks like a perfect candidate for the Home Run Derby.
But Langeliers has no interest. None. When MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos asked about participating in the All-Star event, the catcher’s answer was a flat “No.” Not a maybe. Not a we’ll see. Just no.
This isn’t a guy who is slumping either. Langeliers has hit at least 20 home runs every season since 2023, and he’s coming off a career-high 31 in 2025. The All-Star break hasn’t even arrived yet, and he’s already two-thirds of the way to matching last year’s total. If he stays healthy and avoids a cold stretch, he could blow past his own mark.
A Career Track Worth Watching
Langeliers has played 514 games over five seasons, all with the Athletics. His line is .240 with 108 dingers and 281 RBIs. Not a flashy average, but the power is real and consistent. The A’s have him under team control through 2029, so they’re counting on him to be a primary run producer for years.
But for now, the Home Run Derby can look elsewhere. The league will probably pick from that group of five AL hitters who have more homers than Langeliers anyway. Whatever they decide, they can cross one guy off the list.
Bigger Fish to Fry
Here’s the thing about Langeliers turning down the Derby. The Athletics are 41-16 heading into Thursday, and they’re only three games back in the AL West. That’s a real race. Langeliers is choosing to put everything into that chase. Every swing he takes in a game matters. Every home run adds to a division race that could come down to the wire.
He’d rather those swings count in the standings than in a made-for-TV exhibition. Hard to argue with that logic when your team is playing this well.
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