Two-time champ Pete Alonso of the New York Mets told reporters Sunday that he will skip the Home Run Derby in Atlanta, adding "I have never really fully enjoyed the three off-days, so I just want to be in the best possible position to help this team win.

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"I want to be in the best position possible to help this team win in the second half," Alonso told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Despite his love for the event, he feels that this year he doesn't have the necessary motivation to participate and prefers to use the break to recover.