Arlington, Texas ? Josh Hamilton used to run around in the outfield while his older brother’s American Legion team in North Carolina took batting practice against volunteer coach Clay Council.

Later as a teenager, Hamilton would have Council throw him batting practice. And now Hamilton will hit against the 71-year-old coach again – on one of the biggest of baseball’s stages.

Hamilton, the All-Star starting outfielder from the Texas Rangers, chose Council to be his pitcher for the Home Run Derby on Monday night at Yankee Stadium.

“I’ve known him for batting practice forever,” Hamilton said Saturday. “I talked to him a couple of nights ago, and he’s really excited about it.”