SEATTLE – If you’re a fan of dingers, longballs, moon shots, four-baggers, blasts, bombs, big flies, no-doubts, taters, jacks, or just regular homers, oh boy, do we have an event for you.
The 2023 MLB Home Run Derby takes place Monday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). Last year’s winner Juan Soto won’t return to defend his crown, but 2022 runner-up Julio Rodríguez – who by most accounts stole the show in Los Angeles – is looking to repeat his performance on his own land.
Not that he doesn’t have worthy challengers.
Let’s break down the pitch of this year’s Derby.
No. 1 Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox
Home runs 2023: 26
Previous Derby performances: None
Fun fact: Robert’s last homer of the first half scored No. 26, a tally that doubled his previous single-season high.
Robert needed a boost to take his place in the competition, according to MLB.com, and he got it from Randy Arozarena and Adolis Garcia, two fellow Cubans also on the court. Although Robert was initially hesitant to put his punching side on his batting side, swinging for the fences actually matches the 25-year-old’s evolution over the course of a career year. He’s taken a more patient approach to the plate that leads to more strikeouts and also allows him to tap into his immense power more often. —Zach Crizer
No. 8 Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
Home runs 2023: 12
Previous Derby performances: None
Fun fact: No catcher has ever won the MLB Home Run Derby.
Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, born and raised in Oregon, Rutschman’s decision to compete in the Seattle Derby was easy. Another easy call? Having his dad, Randy, talk to him. Unlike most sluggers, Rutschman, a switch hitter, can also choose which side of the plate he will hit. He told MLB.com that he “will probably start off left-handed.” The numbers back that up, as 20 of his 24 career outbursts have come from that side, but it does raise the interesting possibility that he’ll switch sides mid-contest. — CZ
No. 2 Pete Alonso, New York Mets
Home runs 2023: 26
Previous Derby performances: Winner in 2019 and 2021, semi-finalist in 2022
Fun fact: Since his debut in 2019, no one has homered more Major League Baseball than Pete Alonso. Person. Not even Aaron Judge.
Pete Alonso recently told Yahoo Sports that his favorite Derby performance from a fan perspective was Josh Hamilton in 2008, when Hamilton’s 28 homers in the first round set a record.
“Even though he didn’t win,” Alonso said, “I still think it was one of the coolest Home Run Derby rounds ever.”
At the time, the format was different; each contestant got a certain number of “outs” instead of a time limit. Alonso’s Derby career – two wins, three appearances before 2023 – has been in the timed era, a development that has made the Derby more compelling and grueling.
“I really think it’s more about stamina,” Alonso said of the new format, which requires guys to swing fast. But it’s not hard to see the appeal: “I think it’s fun because you have a chance of having higher home run totals. Obviously it’s really great for the people there in the stadium because they just see balls constantly flying around the court and also for the people on TV because it’s just high octane.
This year, Alonso will compete for his third Derby title, which would tie Ken Griffey Jr. for the most ever.
“I mean, it’s something that I’m obviously known for,” Alonso said. “Not just the Home Run Derby stuff, but for me home runs are a really big part of my game, so I guess that’s enough on the mark.” —Hannah Keyser
No. 7 Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners
Home runs 2023: 13
Previous Derby performances: Vice-champion in 2022
Fun fact: Rodríguez told reporters during last year’s Derby that he would “try” to knock one entirely out of the stadium. If anyone in this field is going to make it this year, it will be him. So far this season he has the longest ball among Derby competitors, having reached a 454ft to left center in May.
Last year, J-Rod became the consensus lead character in an All-Star hiatus that lasted less than 100 games in his big league career. He did not win the Derby – falling in the final to Juan Soto, who excelled despite swirling trade rumors – but his first-round tally of 32 was a one-round record for the night and literally double the number that he had reached in regular season games to this point.
“What did I show the fans?” Rodríguez said at the time. “Who I am, I guess. A bit of my style…I think they know a bit now.
About a month later, the then-rookie signed a mega-extension with the Mariners that will keep him in Seattle for most, if not all, of his career. And this year, the Derby comes to him. Even before leaving Los Angeles last year, Rodríguez fielded questions about his alleged performance at the 2023 event in Seattle, saying he would “try” to land a clean shot at T-Mobile Park. —HK
No. 3 Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Home runs 2023: 26
Previous Derby performances: None
Fun fact: His stature may not scream more hitter, but few hitters in baseball history can boast a more prolific bunch homer record. Betts’ six career three-home run games are already tied for the all-time record with Sammy Sosa and Johnny Mize. No other active player has more than three.
Betts’ success will likely look like the same shot — ripped just over the wall in left field — over and over. It’s a feat we know he’s capable of, with some of the most elite hand-eye coordination in the game, but a potential limitation nonetheless. Relatively few of Betts’ home runs achieve distance without a doubt no matter where it goes. Over the past three seasons, 36 of his 81 homers (44.4%) have been rated 400 feet or more by Statcast. Other competitors such as Pete Alonso, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Luis Robert launch over 400 feet on more than 60% of their circuits. — CZ
No. 6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Home runs 2023: 13
Previous Derby performances: Finalist in 2019
Fun fact: Guerrero smashed 40 homers in the 2019 semi-finals, which is still the single-lap record.
Consider it a plus for Guerrero that the All-Star festivities are far, far away from Toronto this season; of his 13 home runs in 2023, 10 have come on the road. After a mixed sack of a first half, however, Guerrero could be in fine form. He didn’t hit his first home longball until June 23, but he later hit two more in the same home stand. — CZ
No. 4 Adolis García, Texas Rangers
Home runs 2023: 23
Previous Derby performances: None
Fun fact: In 2021, García made his first All-Star team, finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and led Rangers in home runs with 31 – just months after the team nominated him for assignment. In fact, it was the second time in his career to this point that he was DFA; the first was when the St. Louis Cardinals waived him after three years of smashing the minor league pitcher but not translating him to the majors.
The first round between García and Arozarena will be a friendly competition between compatriots. The two Cuban-born players became friends while in the Cardinals organization and have remained close to this day. Arozarena, who named García godfather to his daughter, said even back when they were both minor leaguers, he saw it 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, I know I’m competitive,” Arozarena said through ‘an interpreter. “I knew we would be here – not necessarily the Home Run Derby, but definitely as superstars.” —HK
No. 5 Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays
Home runs 2023: 16
Previous Derby performances: None
Fun fact: Although this is his first appearance in the Midsummer Classic, Arozarena has already proven how much he enjoys the spotlight and gives his best on the biggest stage. In 2020 – with just 42 major league regular season games under his belt and one season Before he would win Rookie of the Year – he earned ALCS MVP honors and set a single playoff home run record.
Here’s a bit more from Arozarena on the friendship and rivalry between him and García: “We’ll try to share the win because we said if I lose to him he’ll win the Derby, and if I beat him, so I’m going to win the Derby,” Arozarena said. “So that’s how we’re going to share it. We’ll find out who won on Monday. —HK