As the 2024 season enters its midsummer recess, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. 2024 Home Run Derby:
While the All-Star Futures Game and Day 1 of the MLB Draft both kicked into gear over the weekend, All-Star festivities are kicking into high gear today with this year’s Home Run Derby scheduled to take place at 7pm CT. The event is set to be broadcast on ESPN and features a new set of rules, including the top four hitters from the first round advancing into a bracket-style tournament in the semifinals as opposed to previous years where a bracket was present from the beginning of the derby. MLB.com offers a detailed look at the full rules changes for tonight’s event.
Two-time derby champion Pete Alonso will try to win a third title in five attempts, while Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia will look to win the derby in his home ballpark. Ken Griffey Jr. holds the record for the most derby wins with three. Bryce Harper (2018) and Ryne Sandberg (1990) are the only two players to ever win on their home field. Alonso and Garcia will be joined in the event by Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez, Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm, Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Braves DH Marcell Ozuna, Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, and Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
2. Draft Day 2:
Day 1 of the MLB draft kicked off with the Guardians selecting Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with the first overall pick. By the end of the night, 74 picks had been made in total across the first two rounds. Day 2 of the draft, which will cover rounds three through ten, starts at 1pm CT this afternoon. Per MLB Pipeline, outfielder Dakota Jordan (No. 34 in the class) is the top college player still available, while right-hander and University of Iowa commit Joey Oakie (No. 46) is the top high schooler still on the board after right-hander William Schmidt (No. 16 in the class) announced that he’ll be honoring his commitment to LSU yesterday afternoon. The Athletic’s Keith Law, meanwhile, considers second baseman Peyton Stovall (No. 34) to be the top college player while listing outfielder and Auburn commit D’Marion Terrell (No. 52) as the best prep talent remaining.
3. Soroka injury scare:
White Sox right-hander Michael Soroka was pulled from his outing against the Pirates after just one out yesterday thanks to what the team has described as right shoulder soreness. As noted by MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, he’s set to be evaluated further during the All-Star break. It’s a frustrating situation for Soroka, who will celebrate his 27th birthday next month. The righty was among the most exciting young pitchers in the game back in 2019, when he earned an All-Star nod, finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, and even received down-ballot Cy Young consideration.
Soroka suffered four consecutive lost seasons after that, however, making just ten appearances from 2020-23 due to injuries. He was finally healthy entering the 2024 campaign but has not looked like the same pitcher. He’s struggled to a 5.23 ERA and 5.40 FIP and found himself dropped from the rotation in Chicago by mid-May. Soroka has performed nicely in a multi-inning relief role since then, logging a 3.45 ERA (3.37 FIP, 3.07 SIERA) with a massive 36.7% strikeout rate. Granted, he’s also walked 14.1% of his opponents in that time, but it’s still easy to imagine the pending free agent getting some trade interest based on that strikeout rate — if he can show he’s healthy after the break.