New York, NY -- (Sports Network) - Major League Baseball announced Monday that four players from the National League have committed to take part in the 2009 edition of the Home Run Derby, held annually the day before the All-Star Game.

The field thus far is comprised of a quartet of first-baggers in Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, Philadelphia's Ryan Howard, San Diego's Adrian Gonzalez and hometown favorite St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. The Derby will be held on Monday July 13th with the 80th installment of the All-Star Game to be held the next day at St. Louis' Busch Stadium.

The Senior Circuit will put forth an imposing group as Pujols leads the majors with 31 home runs entering play Monday, with Gonzalez tied for second with 24. Fielder is tied for fifth with 22 while Howard shares ninth place with 20.

Howard may yet be the strongest of the group, though, having won the Derby in 2006 at Pittsburgh's PNC Park. Pujols ended runner-up to Garret Anderson in the 2003 contest and Fielder participated in 2007's event, along with Howard and Pujols, at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Gonzalez will be making his Derby debut.