Carlos Gómez shows he still has it, as he tunes up for home-run derby with Brewers in Miami

MIAMI – You can take a player out of The Show, but you can't take The Show out of the player.

Case in point: Carlos Gómez, an all-time Milwaukee Brewers fan favorite, who is taking his upcoming participation in the team's alumni home-run derby at American Family Field on July 25 quite seriously.

"Of course," he said, flashing his trademark smile.

The now-39-year-old took part in the team's pre-game batting practice session at loanDepot Park on Friday night, July 4 in advance of Milwaukee's series opener against the Miami Marlins.

Gómez – who launched 87 of his 145 career homers with the Brewers, including a career-best 24 in his 2013 all-star campaign – came equipped with one of his own game-model bats, suited up and certainly didn't look out of place compared to the current players after several rounds.

He tattooed several balls, with his fifth swing resulting in his first homer and another in his next round (taken with a torpedo bat borrowed from the Marlins' Jesús Sánchez) that sailed out to left-center and cleared the walkway that stands 30-some feet above the playing field.

Gómez needed the green light from manager Pat Murphy in order to take his hacks, which was granted without question.

"I think it's super healthy that we keep those people around that love the organization, have great feelings about it," he said.

Gómez will serve as a team captain for the home-run derby along with Ryan Braun. Yovani Gallardo, Bill Hall, Corey Hart, Casey McGehee, Nyjer Morgan and Eric Thames will also take part in the festivities.

"It’s the adrenaline to step in (American Family Field) again with my ex-teammates, this organization," he said. A lot of good memories come to my mind, and I’m excited.

"I don’t see it as a competition. I see it as bringing those moments back. I’m going to enjoy seeing Prince hit a homer. I’m going to enjoy Nyjer hitting a homer, Braun hitting a homer. I think that we’re all going to have fun and enjoy it, but I think I’m in really good shape to put a good show on."

First round for Gómey. Homered on his fifth swing. pic.twitter.com/lnpEmIJNuq

— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) July 4, 2025

Gómez is currently in Miami with his family, and stays in shape by playing baseball with and coaching his three sons. He's also an avid cyclist – he said he knocked out a couple 40-mile rides the past few days – although a crash eight months ago resulted in Gómez needing surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder.

"I’m getting my shape back and I feel really good," he said. "To hit a home run, it’s not a big deal."

Gómez was a major prospect with the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins before finally fulfilling his immense promise in Milwaukee.

He scored the winning run in Game 5 of the Brewers' NLDS victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Morgan's hit in 2011, became a full-time player in 2012 and an all-star in 2013 and 2014 before being traded to the Houston Astros on July 30, 2015 (the deal also netted the Brewers Josh Hader, among others).

In his six years with the Brewers (697 games), Gómez hit .267 with a .777 OPS, drove in 288 runs and in 2013 became the first Milwaukee player since Robin Yount in 1982 to win a Rawlings Gold Glove Award for his play in center field.

Gómez also played for the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays before officially retiring as a Brewer and being inducted to the Brewers' Wall of Honor in September of 2021.

"I’m already loyal," Gómez said. "This organization gave me a lot, and the opportunity to be who I am. Every organization gave me a job, but I spent almost six years here and I have really good memories of the way they treated my family, the way they treated me.

"And every time I go to Milwaukee I feel the love and the appreciation from the fans. The day that I got traded, that day changed my career.

"I'm a Brewer forever."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Carlos Gómez tunes up for Brewers' alumni home-run derby in Miami