Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper Using Montco Bats In Home Run Derby

EAST NORRITON, PA — Bryce Harper, along with Phillies slugger Rhys Hoskins, will have a unique connection to Montgomery County in tonight's Home Run Derby in Washington, D.C.

Both players are using bats made by Chandler Bats, a sports equipment manufacturer located on Felton Road in East Norriton. The Derby is held annually the night before the MLB All Star Game and features many of the game's top power hitters.

The custom made bats are unique to each player. Hoskins' bat includes a bear - a symbol of his native California - prowling across the Philadelphia skyline. The Philly area code 215 is written on the bat, as well as his home area code of 916, in Sacramento. There is also a rendering of the Liberty Bell.

It's not like Chandler is new to the national stage - they make bats for several other Major League sluggers, ranging from Phillie Carlos Santana to Yankee Aaron Judge - but their bats are a bit different from others you'll see during the Home Run Derby on Monday night and the All Star Game on Tuesday.

"Becoming the largest and most popular bat manufacturer wasn’t the goal," the company writes on their website. "Building a reputation, player to player, based upon quality, integrity and ingenuity was."

Making their work all the more special is that hometown favorite Hoskins - who set the baseball world on fire by making history last summer - will be bringing their product to the national stage Monday. No Phillie has competed in the event for years. Phillie Bobby Abreu won the event in 2005, and Ryan Howard followed that up with a victory in 2006.

Hoskins, who has missed time this year due to injury, has still managed to slug 14 home runs in 170 at bats, while batting .252 and maintaining an .819 OPS. He's also drawn an absurd 51 walks, giving him a stellar .396 on base percentage.

Harper is the favorite in the contest, according to the latest OddsShark numbers, at plus 225. There are some notable absences from the contest this year, including Yankees sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez, and Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez of the Red Sox.

The field includes eight sluggers. Hoskins will face off against the Brewers' Jesus Aguilar in Round 1. Things get going at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images