Headlines

  • Brandon Woodruff Out For Wild Card Series With Shoulder Injury
  • Buck Showalter Will Not Return As Mets Manager In 2024
  • Tim Wakefield Passes Away
  • Felix Bautista To Undergo Tommy John Surgery, Signs Through 2025 Season
  • Rockies Sign Charlie Blackmon To One-Year Extension
  • Reds Sign Nick Krall To Extension, Promote Him To President Of Baseball Operations
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Poll: Who Will Win The 2023 Home Run Derby?

By Darragh McDonald | July 10, 2023 at 5:05pm CDT

The 2023 All-Star festivities have already kicked off, with this past weekend featuring the Futures Game and the start of the MLB Draft. The draft continued today and tonight will feature the Home Run Derby, followed by more drafting and the All-Star game tomorrow. The derby is mostly about entertainment, though there’s also a $1MM prize on the line. That’s chump change to a lot of these players, but not all. The runner-up gets $500K and each other participant gets $150K. The player who hits the longest home run will get an extra $100K. It kicks off at 7pm Central time tonight.

The competition will proceed with head-to-head matchups in a bracket with these eight players, proceeding in order of their seeding: Luis Robert Jr., Pete Alonso, Mookie Betts, Adolis García, Randy Arozarena, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Julio Rodríguez and Adley Rutschman. Defending champion Juan Soto isn’t participating this year, leaving the throne open for the taking. Let’s take a look at the matchups and some of their stats.

  • Luis Robert Jr. OF, White Sox: Robert is having his best season in many ways, including in the power department. He came into the year with 36 home runs in 222 games but already has 26 this season in just 89 contests. He’s hitting .271/.330/.569 overall for a wRC+ of 143. He has an average exit velocity of 89 mph, max of 113.6 mph and a 15.9% barrel rate. This is his first time participating in the home run derby.
  • Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles: Rutschman debuted last year and hit 13 home runs in 113 games but is already up to 12 this year after just 86 contests. He’s hitting .273/.376/.423 on the season for a wRC+ of 125. He has an average exit velocity of 87.9 mph, max of 111.1 mph and a 6.7% barrel rate. This is his first time participating in the home run derby.

__

  • Adolis García, OF, Rangers: García broke out in 2021 with a 31-homer campaign, added another 27 last year and already has 23 here in 2023. Financially, he’s probably the player with the most to gain from the prize money. He’s yet to reach arbitration and that $1MM total is more than his annual salary. He got a $2.5MM bonus when signing with the Cardinals, but that was way back in 2017. Rutschman is the only other player in the field that is both pre-arb and hasn’t signed an extension, but he got a signing bonus of $8.1MM when signing in 2019. Garcia is hitting .261/.331/.517 this year for a wRC+ of 131. He’s hitting .273/.376/.423 on the whole for a wRC+ of 125. He has an average exit velocity of 92.2 mph, max of 115.1 mph and a 16.4% barrel rate. This is his first time participating in the derby.
  • Randy Arozarena, OF, Rays: Arozarena vaulted himself onto the national stage with 10 home runs in the 2020 postseason. He followed that up by hitting 20 in each of the past two seasons and has another 16 here in 2023. He’s hitting .279/.388/.467 on the year for a wRC+ of 147. He has an average exit velocity of 92.9 mph, max of 114.3 mph and a 14.6% barrel rate. This is his first time participating in the derby.

__

  • Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets: Alonso is the most successful derby participant of the group, winning the competition back-to-back in 2019 and 2021. There was no derby in 2020 due to the pandemic. He attempted to win a third consecutive title last year but was defeated by J-Rod in the semis. He has 172 career home runs and is at 26 this year. He’s slashing .211/.310/.497 for a wRC+ of 123. He has an average exit velocity of 89.2 mph, max of 113.7 mph and a 14.8% barrel rate.
  • Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners: Rodríguez will be the hometown favorite with the festivities taking place in Seattle this year. As mentioned, he took out Alonso a year ago but fell to Juan Soto in the finals. He hit 28 home runs as a rookie last year and has added 13 more this year. He’s hitting .249/.310/.411 for a wRC+ of 105. He has an average exit velocity of 92.8 mph, max of 115.5 mph and a 9.8% barrel rate.

__

  • Mookie Betts, IF/OF, Dodgers: Betts is 30 years old and this is his seventh time in the All-Star game but this will be his first derby. He has 239 career home runs, including 26 this year. He’s batting .276/.379/.586 overall for a wRC+ of 157. He has an average exit velocity of 92.5 mph, max of 110.1 mph and a 12.8% barrel rate.
  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays: Guerrero put on a show in the 2019 contest, hitting 91 home runs overall but falling just short of Alonso in the final round. He has 117 homers in his career and 13 here in 2023. He’s slashing .274/.344/.443 for a wRC+ of 120. He has an average exit velocity of 94.3 mph, max of 116.7 mph and a 13.6% barrel rate.

__

The winner of Robert/Rutschman will square off against the winner of García/Arozarena in the semis, while the winner of Alonso/Rodríguez will face the winner of Betts/Guerrero. Before we get to who you think will win, let’s start with who you want to win. (Link to poll for app users)

And who do you think will win the 2021 Home Run Derby? (Link to poll for app users)

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email0

Baltimore Orioles Chicago White Sox Los Angeles Dodgers MLBTR Polls New York Mets Seattle Mariners Tampa Bay Rays Texas Rangers Toronto Blue Jays Adley Rutschman Adolis Garcia Julio Rodriguez Luis Robert Mookie Betts Pete Alonso Randy Arozarena Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Yankees Name Sean Casey Hitting Coach
Main
Reds Outright Henry Ramos, Ricky Karcher
View Comments (69)

Comments

  1. Milwaukee-2208

    3 months ago

    Probably Alonso. He’ll be playing like it’s the WS. Only shot he’s got at a trophy this season.

    5
    Reply
    • sfes

      3 months ago

      Funny coming from a fan of a team that’s never even won a WS. At least we can say we’ve actually seen it.

      2
      Reply
      • Milwaukee-2208

        3 months ago

        Never said my team was elite. At least we know we are mid. Mets fans still think they got a shot! Losers.

        4
        Reply
        • sfes

          3 months ago

          Not mid. Just a team who’s never ever ever won. Must be depressing.

          5
          Reply
      • paleobros

        3 months ago

        Ohhhh kablaaammmm got him

        1
        Reply
      • paleobros

        3 months ago

        It’s a teeny bit fun, but not a bunch. And not meaningful. It’s like when they put skateboarding in the Olympics. As a skater, it was very bloodless, corporate, and boring.

        Reply
  2. sufferforsnakes

    3 months ago

    Who cares.

    7
    Reply
    • Edp007

      3 months ago

      Indeed

      1
      Reply
    • Pete'sView

      3 months ago

      Exactly. Pinball garbage from Manfred and the owners.

      1
      Reply
      • paddyo875

        3 months ago

        But a Pinball Wizard must be crowned.

        2
        Reply
        • Pete'sView

          3 months ago

          Or at least mess up their swing for the rest of the season.

          Reply
        • phantomofdb

          3 months ago

          derby doesn’t mess up people’s swings

          Reply
    • mookiesboy

      3 months ago

      mostly the folks who are placing wagers online

      3
      Reply
    • grnmtnyeti

      3 months ago

      What a bunch of grumps.

      2
      Reply
      • Pete'sView

        3 months ago

        Home run derby is not baseball, it’s a carnival sideshow created by greed. Nothing more, nothing less.

        2
        Reply
        • grnmtnyeti

          3 months ago

          The second they sold the first ticket to a game baseball became greed. Get over it.

          5
          Reply
        • Pete'sView

          3 months ago

          No, baseball was a thinking man’s entertainment, whether it was a business or not. Home run derby is NOT about strategies, athleticism or real competition. It’s about a batting practice pitcher throwing to a guy knowing what he’s going to see and seeing if he can hit it far. It’s a set up and not a very interesting one. But, hey, if that puts sparkle in your day, have some Red Bull and watch.

          2
          Reply
        • grnmtnyeti

          3 months ago

          Like I said the minute a single profit was made it became about greed and it still is. The Home Run Derby is fun for a lot of people including kids and without drawing more of them in as fans the sport will die.

          For someone so against it you’re spending an awful lot of time on a post about it.

          3
          Reply
        • Pete'sView

          3 months ago

          I’ll stop now.

          Reply
        • Unclenolanrules

          3 months ago

          They get NFL players to come whack some balls at promo events. Same thing. Practice. Not the game, practice.

          Reply
        • SheaGoodbye

          3 months ago

          Yes, that’s why there is the 162-game regular season and the playoffs. The homerun derby amounts to a few hours of time in a long season. Oh, the horror.

          1
          Reply
        • The Saber-toothed Superfife

          3 months ago

          But back then you got free beer…..

          Reply
  3. Richdanna

    3 months ago

    Randy Arozarena with the ultimate upset!

    1
    Reply
    • Spaced-Cowboy

      3 months ago

      I am feeling those Randy vibes

      Reply
    • Tdat1979

      3 months ago

      Untimate upset would be having Soto coming in at the last round and winning it.

      Reply
    • In Seager We Trust

      3 months ago

      That happens when your hitter is trying to draw a walk and your pitcher is pitching like it’s an 0-2 count. Beasley is an awful pitcher, coach, and human being. He should be banned from setting foot in Texas after this. I think he also killed Gallo’s even for him.

      Reply
  4. Gwynning

    3 months ago

    Best odds = Polar Bear
    Best story (if he wins…) = Adolis
    My heart wants = Rutschman or Randy to run away with it.

    5
    Reply
    • Hemlock

      3 months ago

      > My heart wants = Rutschman or
      > Randy to run away with it.

      It’s not a football! Hey, get back here with that heart!

      5
      Reply
    • Monkey’s Uncle

      3 months ago

      A live polar bear would make things a lot more interesting…

      4
      Reply
  5. hiflew

    3 months ago

    Honestly I stopped caring about the HRD a few years ago. I don’t like the new format at all. I know I am in the minority as I have read many people that like it, but I just don’t.

    3
    Reply
    • avenger65

      3 months ago

      On almost any subject, some people will like it and some people won’t.

      1
      Reply
    • 2012orioles

      3 months ago

      I’m with you on the format. I still enjoy it though. The all star game has brought me a lot of great memories, probably from just being a kid in the summertime. Josh Hamilton in 2008 is a top 3 sporting event I wish I could’ve attended. No chance a performance like that will happen with the new format

      Reply
      • Unclenolanrules

        3 months ago

        A dude in his 70s was pitching to Hamilton.

        Reply
    • SocoComfort

      3 months ago

      I wish the homerun derby was like it was back in the black and white days when it was a half hour tv show. Love watching that on ESPN classic as a kid. Have a big tournament where they get 3 outs and a 9 inning game. Any non homerun is an out. Have a sliding scale for money which the player donates to a charity of their choice.

      4
      Reply
      • hiflew

        3 months ago

        I was just thinking of that show earlier. I remember watching the reruns in the afternoons on ESPN after school. I am too young to have watched Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Harmon Killebrew play live, but that show gave me a chance to see them play in their primes. It would be cool to give the next generation the same gift to see Trout, Harper, Acuna, and others in their primes.

        4
        Reply
        • Bill M

          3 months ago

          I’d totally watch those reruns if they brought them back

          Reply
  6. DarkSide830

    3 months ago

    J-Rod to da moon!

    5
    Reply
    • ayrbhoy

      3 months ago

      I like that he’s currently the 4th favorite to win the crown.

      He’ll run away with it: he’s been practicing his HR swing 5 times a night, every game, from his first A-B of this season!

      1
      Reply
  7. JayRyder

    3 months ago

    The got Garcia

    Reply
  8. Hemlock

    3 months ago

    I miss the days of McGwire vs Sosa, even if they weren’t on the level.

    6
    Reply
    • Spaced-Cowboy

      3 months ago

      Whammy

      2
      Reply
    • hiflew

      3 months ago

      They were completely on the level because most of the pitchers throwing the ball were on PEDs too. So it was perfectly level.

      1
      Reply
  9. cardsfanboy

    3 months ago

    Robert jr will put on a show

    2
    Reply
  10. 2012orioles

    3 months ago

    Don’t be surprised to see Randy win this thing

    Reply
    • 2012orioles

      3 months ago

      I like Adolis Garcia too. One of them will make a statement. Hoping it’s Adley though

      Reply
  11. VincentChase

    3 months ago

    My heart is rooting for Mookie, my brain is saying Alonso.

    3
    Reply
    • BigFred

      3 months ago

      Same.

      Reply
    • Pete'sView

      3 months ago

      My heart is for MLB to stop this freakin’ sideshow.

      3
      Reply
      • IronBallsMcGinty

        3 months ago

        Calm down, Karen.

        4
        Reply
      • VincentChase

        3 months ago

        I agree. It was hard to watch. I liked it much better when the player had to wait for the ball to land before they saw the next pitch. This fast and furious business is not appealing. I turned it off after awhile.

        1
        Reply
  12. Dom2

    3 months ago

    Adolis Garcia. Has the most power out of all of them.. Will crush the easy throws.

    2
    Reply
  13. joemoes

    3 months ago

    Adley somewhat of the hometown kid. He’s going to have so many family and friends there. He’s from portland. Grew up a mariners fan. His grandpa made the trip for his trip to seattle last year. He’s also on the easier side of the bracket.

    Reply
  14. Ignorant Son-of-a-b

    3 months ago

    I am surprised to see all the love for Vlad Jr. I’ll just leave it at that.

    1
    Reply
    • Dotnet22

      3 months ago

      Whoops

      3
      Reply
  15. Tdat1979

    3 months ago

    It will be the guy that hits the most home runs in the last round.

    2
    Reply
  16. Cowtipper

    3 months ago

    The HR Derby is a hokey novelty, honestly. I think I thought interest when I was about 10 years old.

    4
    Reply
    • gbs42

      3 months ago

      I think I thought…I thunk.

      Not as catchy as vini, vidi, vici. But I can see what you were going for there.

      4
      Reply
      • Cowtipper

        3 months ago

        Oops :/

        *lost

        2
        Reply
    • grnmtnyeti

      3 months ago

      Cool story.

      1
      Reply
  17. Dutch

    3 months ago

    Looking at those exit velocities make me realize how amazing Ohtani is in that category. Dude has multiple hits with exit velocities above every one else’s best one. Only Vlad Jr comes close

    1
    Reply
    • Edp007

      3 months ago

      I’ve lived through their peaks , Orr to Gretzky , Jabbar to Jordan , Namath to Brady , Bench to Bonds , never seen anything as special as Sho

      Reply
  18. In Seager We Trust

    3 months ago

    Fire Beasley! He should just give Adolis a million from his pay since he blew it for him.

    Reply
    • IronBallsMcGinty

      3 months ago

      Luis Roberts pitcher wasn’t much better. Although he was running out of steam towards the end, he gave it a good run

      1
      Reply
  19. fonz13

    3 months ago

    Julio!!!

    Reply
  20. Hawktattoo

    3 months ago

    Juuulllio!

    Reply
  21. grnmtnyeti

    3 months ago

    Julio put on a show. So did Rutschman by switching sides, that was fun!

    Reply
  22. Unclenolanrules

    3 months ago

    Batting Practice Champion

    Talkin’ about practice. Practice. Not the game, practice.

    Let’s have an all star contest where they chug beers or play a Tetris tournament.

    Please, just get rid of all star week and take a vacation.

    1
    Reply
  23. RayKingsThickThighs

    3 months ago

    That kid getting smoked was the highlight of the derby

    1
    Reply
  24. cleonswoboda

    3 months ago

    if you are an older baseball fan and want to see a REAL HR derby,just go to youtube and watch the Home Run Derby tv show from 1960. Mantle vs. Mays, Banks vs. Hodges, Aaron vs. Mathews,competition like that. it was only on for 1 year because Mark Scott ,the announcer, died after the season. it was in re-runs a few times in the ’60’s and popped up again a few years ago. it’s still fun to see those legendary names in competition for $2k,a lot of money for them back then.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Brandon Woodruff Out For Wild Card Series With Shoulder Injury

    Buck Showalter Will Not Return As Mets Manager In 2024

    Tim Wakefield Passes Away

    Felix Bautista To Undergo Tommy John Surgery, Signs Through 2025 Season

    Rockies Sign Charlie Blackmon To One-Year Extension

    Reds Sign Nick Krall To Extension, Promote Him To President Of Baseball Operations

    Giants Fire Gabe Kapler

    Orioles Agree To 30-Year Lease At Camden Yards

    Padres Prefer To Retain A.J. Preller, Bob Melvin In 2024

    Brooks Robinson Passes Away

    Reds’ Matt McLain Shut Down For Remainder Of 2023 Season

    Padres Plan To Reduce Payroll To Around $200MM; Front Office Changes Possible

    Marlins Place Eury Perez On 15-Day Injured List, Select Jeff Lindgren

    Sandy Alcantara Shut Down For Rest Of 2023 Season

    Brandon Lowe To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Kneecap Fracture

    Rays Promote Junior Caminero

    Sean Doolittle Announces Retirement

    Tigers Name Jeff Greenberg General Manager

    Qualifying Offer Value To Land Around $20.5MM

    Shohei Ohtani Undergoes Elbow Surgery

    Recent

    Sam Kennedy On The Search For The Red Sox’ Next GM

    Erasmo Ramirez Clears Waivers

    Brandon Woodruff Out For Wild Card Series With Shoulder Injury

    Scott Harris, A.J. Hinch Discuss Tigers’ Offseason Plans

    Brewers Release Brian Anderson

    Mets Officially Introduce David Stearns As President Of Baseball Operations

    Padres Chairman Peter Seidler: “Current Leadership Continues To Have My Full Support”

    The Mariners Had An Elite Shortstop In 2023 After All

    The Opener: Mets, Padres, Angels

    Buck Showalter Will Not Return As Mets Manager In 2024

    ad: 300x250_5_side_mlb

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Shohei Ohtani Rumors
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2024-25 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version