July 8, 2008

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The 2008 Major League Baseball State Farm Home Run Derby field has been determined, and for the first time in University of Memphis baseball history, as former Tiger will take the big stage as Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla will participate in tonight's pre-All-Star Game festivities. The State Farm Home Run Derby will be aired live on ESPN at 8 p.m. EST.

Uggla, who was named to his second All-Star team earlier this week, will join the eight player field that includes Philadelphia's Chase Utley, Cleveland's Grady Sizemore, Houston's Lance Berkman, Milwaukee's Ben Braun, Texas's Josh Hamilton, Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria and Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the longball-hitting contest at Yankee Stadium tonight.

Uggla has blasted 81 home runs in his three years in the Majors and currently ranks third with 23 home runs. He trails on Utley--who leads the Majors with 25 homers--and Ryan Howard (24), both of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The former Tiger infielder has put himself in rare company with his home run production in '08. He pounded 27 homers as a rookie in 2006 and then hit a career-high 31 last season. His 23 round-trippers makes him the first second baseman in nearly 70 years to hit at least 20 home runs in each of his first three Major League season.

Uggla led the Majors in home runs before suffering a sprained ankle on June 28. He has not played since.

Primarily known for his gap-to-gap power at the University of Memphis--he hit 40 career doubles, including a U of M single-season record 28 in 2001--Uggla banged out 24 homers in his three-year career as a Tiger. He hit two as a freshman in 1999 and four in 2000 before launching 18 bombs in an All-American 2001 campaign.