San Francisco baseball fans are familiar with former Montreal Expos outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and National League sluggers Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard, the 2006 Home Run Derby champion.

Chances are they could put a face to Canadian first baseman Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins, who was named the American League's most valuable player last season.

All-star Alex Rios has hit 17 home runs for the Blue Jays this season.
(Chris O'Meara/Associated Press)

But how will they spot Alex Rios during Monday's homer derby? Well, besides sporting a Toronto Blue Jays cap, he'll be the one with the just-happy-to-be-here look.

Rios, who drove in the winning run in a 1-0 Toronto win over Cleveland on Sunday, was the final AL participant added to the field of eight sluggers.

"I'm more nervous than excited, but I'll enjoy it," Rios, who hit a two-run homer in San Francisco on June 12, told reporters Sunday. "I'm just going to swing the bat as hard as I can.

"If I don't hit any, that's [fine], I don't care."

Pittsburgh Pirates left-fielder Jason Bay, the pride of Trail, B.C., was blanked at the 2005 event in Detroit.

Tigers right-fielder Magglio Ordonez, Guerrero, Morneau and Rios are the AL's representatives in Monday's derby (8 p.m. ET). The NL contestants include Pujols, Fielder and Howard, plus Colorado outfielder Matt Holliday, who is replacing Miguel Cabrera.

The Florida Marlins third baseman withdrew Sunday because of a jammed left shoulder.

Howard to defend title

With three home runs in his last 10 games, Howard seems ready to defend his title after clearing the fence 24 times in the Home Run Derby in Pittsburgh a year ago.

"It was fun last year and an honour to be invited back," said the Philadelphia Phillies first baseman, who has 21 homers in 70 games this season after clubbing 58 in 2006.

Said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel: "If you watch him take batting practice [every day], I'd say he stands a good chance of winning the thing."

But the third-year major leaguer will be in tough against four of the top 25 home run hitters this season: Fielder (29), Morneau (24), Rios (17) and Pujols (16).

Morneau, who swatted four homers in a four-game weekend series against Chicago, received some advice from White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko.

"He said you'll have adrenaline like you've never had before," Morneau, fearful of being a derby dud, told reporters. "You just don't want to swing and miss.

"You don't want to embarrass yourself because you're the only guy out there, and all eyes are on you."

The six-foot-four, 225-pound Morneau is no stranger to home run derbies, having placed second and first in the two minor-league events he has participated in.

Morneau will become the third Twin ever to compete in Major League Baseball's 22-year-old competition.

Bonds a no-go for derby

Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, who is four home runs shy of Hank Aaron's all-time record of 755, disappointed the hometown fans when he opted out of the derby.

"It's not that you don't want to, it's that you just can't anymore," said Bonds, who often is bothered by sore legs. "It's too long. Too much waiting [between at-bats]. Too much sitting around. You can't do that."

Bonds, 42, is slated to start in left field for the NL in Tuesday's all-star game (8 p.m. ET).

Monday's participants get 10 outs in round one to hit as many home runs as possible. An out is recorded when a player swings and doesn't clear the outfield fence. The four players with the most homers advance to the semifinals, with the top-two in that round meeting in the final.

Totals from the first round carry over to round two, but home runs from both rounds do not carry over to the championship.