SEATTLE – If you’re a fan of niggers, long balls, moonshots, fourballs, blowouts, bombs, big flies, skeptics, cannons, jacks, or just plain home runs, oh boy, do we have happened to you.
The 2023 MLB Home Run Derby takes place in Seattle at T-Mobile Park (8 p.m. EST on ESPN). Last year’s winner, Juan Soto, won’t be back to defend his title, but 2022 runner-up Julio Rodriguez – who stole the show in Los Angeles by most accounts – is looking for a repeat home performance.
Not that he does not have worthy competitors.
Let’s analyze this year’s Derby field.
No. 1 Louis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
2023 home race: 26
Past derby performances: no one
Fun fact: Robert hit his last home run in the first inning on his 26th, a count that doubled his single-season best.
Robert requested a payment to take his spot in the competition, according to MLB.com, and got it from Randy Arrozarena and Adolis Garcia, two fellow Cubans who also field. Although Robert was initially reluctant to pitch his hitting side, swinging for the fences actually suited the 25-year-old’s evolution during a career year. He has adopted a more patient approach to the plate which results in more strikes and also allows him to utilize his massive power more often. – Zach Kreiser
No. 8 Adley Rochman, Baltimore Orioles
2023 home race: 12
Past derby performances: no one
Fun fact: No catcher has won an MLB Home Run Derby.
A native of the Pacific Northwest born and raised in Oregon, Roachman’s decision to race the Derby in Seattle was an easy one. Another easy call? after his father, Randy, grows close to him. Unlike most sluggers, Rutschman, a switch hitter, can also choose which side of the plate to hit from. He told MLB.com that he “will probably start left-handed.” The numbers back that up, as 20 of the 24 blasts in his career have come from this side, but they raise the tantalizing possibility of him switching sides midway through the contest. – ZC
No. 2 Pete Alonso, New York Mets
2023 home race: 26
Past derby performances: Winner in 2019 and 2021, semi-finalist in 2022
Fun fact: Since his debut in 2019, no one has scored more runs in Major League Baseball than Pete Alonso. no one. Not even Aaron Judge.
Pete Alonso recently told Yahoo Sports that his favorite derby performance from a fan perspective was Josh Hamilton in 2008when Hamilton’s 28 in the first turn scored a record.
Alonso said, “Even though he didn’t win, I still think this was one of the most amazing Home Run Derbys ever.”
At the time, the format was different; Each contestant was given a certain number of “outs” rather than a time limit. Alonso’s run in the derby – two wins and three games before 2023 – came in the defining era, a development that made the derby more compelling and more stressful.
“I definitely think it’s something about endurance,” Alonso said of the new format, which forces players to swing quickly. But the attraction isn’t hard to see: “I think it’s fun because you have the chance to get higher home run totals. Obviously, it’s really cool for people out there in the stadium because they see balls constantly flying in the yard and also for people on TV because it’s high-octane.”
This year, Alonso will be fighting for his third Derby title, which will equal Ken Griffey Jr. more than ever.
“I mean, it’s obviously something I’m known for,” said Alonso. “Not just the Home Run Derby stuff, but for me, just Homers is a very big part of my game, so I think it’s pretty on-brand.” – Hannah Keyser
No. 7 Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners
2023 home race: 13
Past derby performances: runner-up in 2022
Fun fact: Rodriguez told reporters at last year’s Derby that he would “try” to hit one from the entire field. If anyone in the field was going to do it this year, it would be him. So far this season he has the longest long ball among derby racers, After hitting a 454-foot left-center in May.
Last year, J-Rod emerged as the consensus mainstay of the All-Star break that came fewer than 100 games into his big-league career. He didn’t win the derby – falling in the final to Juan Soto, who excelled despite rumors circulating about a trade – but his first innings total of 32 was a single innings record for the night and literally double the number he had scored in regular season matches up to that point.
“What have you offered to the masses?” Rodriguez said at the time. “Who am I, I guess. A little bit of my style… I think they know a little bit now.”
About a month later, he was a then-rookie I signed a huge extension with the Mariners This would keep him in Seattle for most, if not all, of his career. And this year, the derby came to him. Even before he left Los Angeles last year, Rodriguez answered questions about his supposed performance at the 2023 event in Seattle, saying he would “try” to score a clean goal from T-Mobile Park. – Hong Kong
No. 3 Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
2023 home race: 26
Past derby performances: no one
Fun fact: His stature may not scream, but few hitters in baseball history can boast a more impressive track record than home belts in combinations. The Petes’ six appearances in three appearances have already been tied for the all-time record with Sammy Sosa and Johnny Miz. No other active player has more than three.
Betts’ success likely looks like the same shot – ripped over the wall in left field – on repeat. It’s a feat we know he’s capable of, with some of the game’s most elite hand-eye coordination, but there are potential limitations though. Relatively few Bates home runs achieve the unquestionable distance – no matter – where they go. Over the past three seasons, 36 out of 81 homeowners (44.4%) have been rated 400 feet or more by Statcast. Other competitors such as Pete Alonso and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Luis Robert climbing over 400 feet over 60% of their teammates. – ZC
No. 6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Toronto Blue Jays
2023 home race: 13
Past derby performances: Runner-up in 2019
Fun fact: Guerrero hit 40 homers in the 2019 semifinals, which still stands as the single-run home run record.
Consider it an advantage for Guerrero that the All-Star festivities are so far away from Toronto this season; Of his 13 home runs in 2023, 10 have come on the road. After a mixed sack of the first half, Guerrero may be getting close to shape. He didn’t hit his first home run until June 23, but then hit two more in the same home run. – ZC
No. 4 Adulis Garcia, Texas Rangers
2023 home race: 23
Past derby performances: no one
Fun fact: In 2021, García made his All-Star team, finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and led the Rangers in home runs with 31 — just months after being named to the job. In fact, it was the second time in his career up to that point that he was awarded the DFA; The first was when he was dumped by the St. Louis Cardinals three years after being crushed in the minor leagues but failed to translate that into the majors.
The first round between Garcia and Arosarrena will be a friendly competition between the nationals. The two Cuban-born players became friends while in the Cardinals organization and remain close to this day. Arozarena, who named García godfather to his daughter, said that even when they were both very young, he saw this coming — sort of.
“We knew we were surrounded by a lot of good players and a lot of players who turned out to be superstars, and I know he’s competitive, and I know I’m competitive,” he said. Arozarena said through an interpreter. “I knew we were going to be here—not necessarily the Home Run Derby, but certainly as superstars.” – Hong Kong
No. 5 Randy Arosarina, Tampa Bay Rays
2023 home race: 16
Past derby performances: no one
Fun fact: Even though this is his Midsummer Classic debut, Arozarena has already proven how much he can enjoy the limelight and perform at his best on the biggest stage. In 2020 – with just 42 major league regular season games under his belt and one season before He was winning Rookie of the Year – he won ALCS MVP and He set a record for home runs in one postseason.
Here’s more from Arozarena about the friendship and rivalry between him and García: “We’ll try to share the victory because we said if I lose to him he’ll win the derby, and if I beat him, then I’ll win the derby,” said Arozarena. “That’s how we’re going to share it. We’ll find out on Monday who won.” – Hong Kong
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