Robinson Cano Was Repeatedly Booed By the Kansas City Crowd as He Went 0-Fer the Home Run Derby

Robinson Cano was the defending Home Run Derby champion, but this time around, he had a big goose egg in the first round. He did so to loud boos every time he stood in to bat, and rousing cheers every time a ball fell short of the fence (except for the Yankees fan begging for just one home run in the video). You might be tempted to think that it was just because Royals fans hate the Yankees. It was actually because the fans wanted Cano, who was the AL team captain, to select Royals representative Billy Butler, after Cano had suggested he might pick a Royal a couple of weeks ago. Instead, he selected Prince Fielder, Jose Bautista, and Mark Trumbo.

Cano was booed earlier tonight during introductions, and a plane flew overhead with a sign saying that “You Blew It, Cano.”

I have no problem with booing a Yankees player. However, this was kind of ridiculous. Billy Butler is having a career power year, as his previous high is 21 home runs in a season. He’s already at 16, and could actually break the franchise season home run record with a great second half (36, Steve Balboni). Jose Bautista leads the league again with 27 home runs at the break. Mark Trumbo has 22. Only Prince Fielder has fewer than Butler of the competitors, and he is one below. Oh, and he has won a Home Run Derby and has hit more home runs than the Royals franchise record in three different seasons.