Madison Bumgarner
 

Madison Bumgarner is a man unto his own. When he's not playing baseball, he is found hunting at home in North Carolina with a bow-and-arrow or ax throwing.

According to a story Vin Scully told earlier this year, Bumgarner once saved a baby jackrabbit that had been eaten by a snake. Simply put, Bumgarner is a unique dude.

So unique, he wants to participate in this July's Home Run Derby. For those who do not know, Bumgarner, the 2014 World Series MVP, is a starting pitcher.

"I want to do it," Bumgarner told ESPN's Buster Olney Sunday in St. Louis.

Olney emphatically said himself: "Madison Bumgarner absolutely wants to be in the Home Run Derby."

As noted on Mike & Mike, Bumgarner has a higher home run rate over the last two seasons than all but 14 MLB players with 100 plate appearances. Bumgarner hits a home run about six percent of his at-bats, better than Albert Pujols, Yoenis Cespedes, Mike Trout, Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson.

His 13 career home runs are most among active pitchers, and Bumgarner led all pitchers in 2014 and 2015 with four and five home runs, respectively. He earned Silver Slugger Awards both seasons. His two home runs this year are tied with Noah Syndergaard for the league lead among pitchers.

Unfortunately for Bumgarner, Giants manager Bruce Bochy is not feeling the Bum.

"No, to be serious, I couldn't let him do it," Bochy says. "We couldn't let him do it.

"And Bum, he's convinced he could win it. I think he would wear himself down in the first round, he'd try to hit it so hard."

Or hurt himself swinging, a risk the Giants cannot take. But it would good entertainment. Instead, Bumgarner will have to resort to studying the San Diego grass of Petco Park while he watches the hitters he usually confuses.

At 7-2 with a 1.91 ERA, Bumganer can just about book his flight to the All-Star Game.

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-- Follow Jeffrey Eisenband on Twitter @JeffEisenband.