Former Red Sox World Series star Jonny Gomes will be a celebrity guest at the FCBL All-Star Game at Holman Stadium on July 21, taking part in the HR Derby finals. (Photo/graphic courtesy of Nashua Silver Knights)

NASHUA – Jonny Gomes has hit some big home runs among the 162 he hit in his 13-year Major League career.

One came with the Boston Red Sox, one of the seven teams the outfielder played for, but the only one he won a World Series Championship with.

He gets to add some to that total at Holman Stadium this summer, as it was announced Thursday that Gomes would take part in the pre-game Home Run Derby at the Futures Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 21.

One of his biggest round trippers came in that 2013 Series vs. the Cardinals, Game 4 to be exact. Gomes hit a three-run shot in St. Louis that gave the Red Sox the lead in a 4-2 series-tying (2-2) win. Ironically, he wasn’t in the lineup until after batting practice when Shane Victorino was a scratch with back issues.

Boston didn’t lose the rest of the way, winning the next two games to take the Series in six. That homer changed the Series, because had the Red Sox lost that game, they would have been in a 3-1 hole. Instead, they won Game 5 and 6 to capture the title. He was dealt to the A’s in 2014 with heralded lefty pitcher Jon Lester as the Red Sox switched to rebuild mold.

“It was the best year and a half that anyone could imagine,” Gomes said upon leaving Boston. “Going from worst to first was humbling.”

He last played in the Majors in 2015 and officially retired in 2018. In 2022, the always personable Gomes fittingly did play with the ever-entertaining Savannah Bananas. Gomes will battle whoever comes out of the FCBL Derby — consisting likely the league’s four best power hitters — in an event final. He should enjoy the short left field at Holman, some 307 feet down the line to the brick wall.

“He’s going to be the final boss,” Cook said of Gomes’ role in the Derby. “The Futures League guys, you get through the Futures League bracket and then you get a one-on-one vs. Jonny Gomes for the title.”

After the Derby, Gomes will remain at Holman during and after the All-Star Game to mingle with fans, sign autographs, etc.

“He’ll stick around for the All-Star Game,” Silver Knights general manager Cam Cook confirmed. “I can’t believe it’s been over 10 years since Jonny Gomes was on the Red Sox, Talk about making an impact in one year.”

How did the Knights snare Gomes for the event? According to Cook, they used the Major League Players Association to book former Sox star Brock Holt for a guest appearance at a game last year. The game was rained out but Holt stayed and signed autographs during the delay and after. Cook was so thrilled with how that worked out he went back to the MLBPA and they sent a list of names for this year.

“Jonny Gomes’ name was the one that stood out the most to me,” Cooks said, “in terms of characte, which I think is really important when you’re getting a personality like that to come to your games. You could get a larger than life name but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to get the engagement that you hope for. Jonny Gomes, everything we’ve seen, who he was in 2013 for the Red Sox. He seemed like a perfect fit.”

The next thing Cook had to do, calling it “a shot in the dark” was see if Gomes might want to hit in the All-Star HR Derby. “They (MLBPA) called me back and said, ‘Oh he is all for it. Loves the idea.'”

Cook was ecstatic.

“There’s a lot of intrigue to it,” Cook said. “He’s older and it’s been a while since he’s played MLB wise. It’s only 307 down the line at Holman Stadium and this guy’s been doing it for a living for a long time. It’s going to be really, really interesting going up a 20-year-old who has power. I’m really excited.”

The FCBL has been involving big names. Recently the Westfield (Mass.) Starfires hosted an event at Westfield State University that had former Sox pitcher Roger Clemens as a guest speaker. The rebranded Lowell Spinners had Johnny Damon make an appearance in late February. When the Silver Knights hosted the league’s Hall of Fame ceremonies at Rivier University back in November, former Worcester standout and current Yankees first baseman Ben Rice was inducted. Holt was at Holman last year. And late last season, the Starfires had former Sox reliever Jonathan Papelbon face a couple of hitters.

Gomes’ appearance certainly spices up the FCBL All-Star Game and should be a draw. A single ticket to the All-Star Game includes admission to the Home Run Derby, giving fans access to both events.

“I just think he’s a perfect fit,” Cook said, “for what this event is.”

The Silver Knights will open up the regular season at Holman on Wednesday, May 27 at 10:30 a.m.with an Education Day Game vs. the Vermont Lake Monsters.