Major League Baseball has announced the field for the 2023 Home Run Derby. The full list of participants:
- White Sox OF Luis Robert Jr.
- Mets 1B Pete Alonso
- Dodgers OF/INF Mookie Betts
- Rangers OF Adolis García
- Rays OF Randy Arozarena
- Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Mariners OF Julio Rodríguez
- Orioles C Adley Rutschman
It is a single-elimination bracket. First-round matchups are as follows: Robert/Rutschman, Alonso/Rodríguez, Betts/Guerrero, García/Arozarena. Rodríguez and Alonso are the only two repeat players from last year’s event. Alonso had won the event back-to-back times in 2019-21 (there was no Derby in 2020 because of the pandemic) before Rodríguez knocked him out in the semifinal round last season. Juan Soto took down Rodríguez to win the tournament but declined to try to defend his title.
The Derby will take place Monday evening at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park. Under the collective bargaining agreement, the winner will receive $1MM. The runner-up takes home $500K, while every other participant receives $150K. The player who hits the longest home run wins $100K.
Braves_saints_celts
Shows how much I pay attention to the home run derby. I always thought it was supposed to be an equal amount of players from the AL/NL. Guess I was very very wrong lol
deweybelongsinthehall
You’re not alone. I can’t recall many (if any) other times where it wasn’t. This suggests to me the players don’t want to participate.
HeedFrodo
I want to say a while ago that was correct
PaulyMidwest
Christopher Morel would’ve made it better.
NicoHoerndawg
Yea but I’m happy he won’t develop a home run happy swing afterwards, had he participated.
chiefnocahoma1
Isn’t that the swing he already has?
avenger65
You mean “The Mushroom”? He wouldn’t do very well. There’s a difference in hitting HRs in a regulation ball park than in an ancient band box
PaulyMidwest
Bro like 80% of his HRS are like 450 feet moonshots..think u are thinking of someone else
capnfatback
While Wrigley Field is typically a little more HR-friendly than T-Mobile Park, according to Baseball Savant, both are middle of the pack, and there isn’t too much difference between the two.
Unclenolanrules
It’s batting practice.
yetipro
For the last 3 on this list to have made it, there must have been quite a number of players that didn’t want to enter the derby.
Newsylux
I read somewhere that a bunch of players refuse because it messes with their swing
deweybelongsinthehall
Must be why Devers has never done it. He’d be fun to watch.
Fever Pitch Guy
News – That is correct, messes up swings and can also be physically exhausting.
Case in point: Adrian Gonzalez
MoneyBallJustWorks
for Vlad to have made it? lol
yetipro
He’s 53rd in MLB in home runs. So definitely top 8, rofl
MoneyBallJustWorks
he has the record for most home runs in a single HR Derby. so yeah, an off season power wise and he shouldn’t be in it.
tstats
Do you remember that Joc Vlad battle amazing
just_breathe
Our friends who love NBA wish the dunk contest attracted the star power present in the Derby. We feel excited for this year because of the mix of young and veteran sluggers. Can’t wait to see who wins!
Unclenolanrules
Batting practice winner!
Dumpster Divin Theo
Teah would love to see Vlad or Lou Bob dunk! Polar Bear not so much. What’s the saying? Polar bear can’t jump?
slidepiece
Racist comment Theo
MoneyBallJustWorks
can’t wait to see Vlad, Pete, Randy, Mookie and Luis.
Kershaw's Lesser Known Right Arm
I know logic says one of the bigger guys is going to win, but Mookie Betts is that kid at P.E. who says “I’m gonna do this” and does it. I wouldn’t put it past him to take the whole thing
Cohen’sLastWhiteTooth
There was a kid in PE class growing up that pooped his pants, just a little bit, and a cheez ball size turd rolled down his leg and on to the floor. Just a little turd sphere. Nothing more, nothing less.
Was that him?
Kershaw's Lesser Known Right Arm
No no. That was me
Cohen’sLastWhiteTooth
Oh dang! How you been man? Still dropping spheres at the gym?
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Cohen
Didn’t your mama teach you not to use sphere words?
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I think Alonso will win, good thing too, because it’s the only thing the Mets will win this year.
avenger65
As Rodriquez showed last year, it isn’t necessarily good to hit a lot of HRs in the first round. By the time he got to the final his arms were exhausted.
vaderzim
Love this group! I feel like recently they would always include a guy who has only 8 or fewer home runs who doesn’t have a lot of power potential and always would get knocked out in the 1st Round anyway.
I don’t see that with this group, although some have more of an advantage than others, I can see scenario where each of these guys could win.
But come on… we all know Pete is going to win.
JayRyder
I’ll go Garcia !
Andujar
I like the HR derby. But then again, I’m dumb enough to comment on sportsball sites. lol
Sid Bream Speed Demon
Braves lead the league in HR, but not a single Braves player? Interesting. I imagine they all must have turned it down if offered.
avenger65
It’s up to the players. Robert wasn’t going to participate but some of the other players talked him into it.
Hemlock
I am glad that they avoided it.
richardc
Yeah, I thought FOR SURE one of Matt Olson, Riley, Acuña, Murphy, or even little Ozzie would be invited this year, but I’m guessing whichever one of then thay was offered must have turned them down.
It’s a shame too, because Olson’s LH swing in particular is a beautiful one when he’s knocking out bombs!!
Is there any information out on who they asked, or who all might have turned them down?? I doubt MLB would really want that info getting leaked, as it would REALLY show the competition for what it is, and that’s definitely not the best HR hitters for any given season…
It’d be a real shame if any of the Braves wanted to participate, and they weren’t offered though…
advplee
I know for certain that Ronald and Matt both turned down a chance to be in the home run Derby
Hawktattoo
It is well documented that both Acuno and Olsen turned down invitation. Players do every yea.
Isohel
Adley should hit from the right side just to make it a full righty tournament.
George Ruth
Depends on whether his pitcher is a Lefty or a Righty
George Ruth
The National League won’t be winning the Homerun Derby this year with only 2 participants
seanb1223
I love the García/Arozarena matchup. The two are good friends. It should be a fun show.
Cohen’sLastWhiteTooth
Same. Been a big fan of Adolis Garcia since his breakout role as a henchman in Spy Kids 2.
Dumpster Divin Theo
Wasn’t he Doc Ock?
Cohen’sLastWhiteTooth
If you’re giving guys hundreds of thousands for homeruns, I want to see minor leaguers or guys on rookie contracts.
$150k is nothing to Mookie Betts. But, other guys would be freaking out if they got that. Plus, it’s not like the names matter during the derby. Wily Mo Peña should have been in a homerun derby, Franchy Cordero would also be fun to watch.
avenger65
I think the players would give such paltry amounts to charity.
yetipro
Mookie will just use it as tp. Should last a while.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I think HR Derby sponsors would disagree that names don’t matter. They could do a separate HR tournament for Futures Game participants tho.
Cincyfan85
Would have been better with Elly de La Cruz!
Joe Kerr
next year
Hemlock
> Major League Baseball has announced
> the field for the 2023 Home Run Derby.
And you’re getting an injury!
And you’re getting an injury!
And you’re getting an injury!
Everybody’s getting an injury!!!
marinersblue96
Great lineup. I think they should of waited for the Alonso and JRod re-match. Last year was epic, they will tire themselves out just trying to reach the 2nd round.
Joshy
Poor poor julio
MarlinsFanBase
Did Jorge Soler not want to participate?
gary55wv
Why reward them for this. Don’t they make enough money already. Now if the are homering for a charity than that is good.
thefaithfulfriar
If Soto were to participate he would draw a walk
brucenewton
Vladdy has it in the bag.
Slider_withcheese
The HR derby is longer than the game. No thanks.
ohyeadam
Chris Berman saying back can only be interesting so many times in one night
Yanks2
Anyone else scratching their head as to why Mookie Betts is in this?
LordD99
No.
Dorothy_Mantooth
@Yanks2 – Mookie is #5 in MLB for HRs hit so far this season. He makes much more sense than some of the others on this list.
DhonkAZ
I’d like an old timers derby. Canseco, McGwire, Bonds, Sosa, Manny Ramirez, and some allnor nothing guys like Branyan, Cust, Chris Carter, etc
Yanks2
That would be great. Glorify all the steroid abusers that did nothing but tarnish their careers and the integrity of the game