it’s almost time The all-star home Derby match MLB 2023!
Slots for the most anticipated baseball event of the summer are quickly filling up, and some of MLB’s biggest names will be targeting the T-Mobile Park stands on July 10 (8 p.m. ET. on ESPN).
One participant sure to be especially popular with the Seattle crowd this year: star Mariners Julio Rodríguez. While Rodriguez lost the final against Juan Soto last summer, he became the first slugger to score 30 innings in a derby — and a little home cooking could be just what he needs to win the event of the year. now.
Now that the field has been announced, we break down each selected player — and his case thwarts J-Rod’s hometown coronation in Emerald City.
Julio Rodríguez
2023 running at home: 13 | Longest: 454 sets
Why he can win: Soto outdid him to win the title last year in Los Angeles, but Rodriguez was clearly the star of the show as he carried long ball after long ball into the Hollywood air in front of an all-star crowd . Rodriguez made 32 home runs in the first round and 31 in the second before running out of breath in the final, so maybe he learned to adjust his pace a little better in the span of a few years. this time.
Why can’t he: Rodriguez’s second season hasn’t quite matched his five great rookies, as he won the American League’s Rookie of the Year Award. The Mariners midfielder has hit the ball once every 25.7 hits this season, down quite a bit from his home hit rate of 19.1 AB hits last season.
2023 running at home: 12 | Longest: 450 sets
Why he was able to take down J-Rod: Like Rodriguez did last year, Guerrero put on a stellar performance in Home Run Debry 2019, but failed to wear the crown. In fact, his 91 home runs that night in Cleveland was the most ever in an event. This season, Guerrero has posted the highest hit rate of his career – 56.6, the highest rate of any opponent committed to this year’s Derby. It’s easy to picture him going into one of those zones as he throws ball after ball.
Why can’t he: That career-high difficulty hit rate didn’t translate to much power output in the game this year, as Guerrero’s 12 home runs in 81 games fell far short of his usual pace.
2023 running at home: 22 | Longest: 426 sets
Why he was able to take down J-Rod: If there’s one thing we’ve learned in Betts’ career, it’s that he’s great at everything he does. Betts is on track for his first 40-yard run and his 92.4 average exit velocity is a career high — at 30 — so there’s reason to be. believe he is getting stronger with age.
Why can’t he: The Derby Home Run is an endurance contest as well as a test of strength. As a result, it is often ruled by giant sluggards (think Pete Alonso, Judge Aaron And Giancarlo Stanton). The 5-foot-9 bet will have to prove that he can keep hitting the long balls for three grueling innings.
2023 running at home: 16 | Longest: 436 sets
Why he was able to take down J-Rod: Has any player in baseball demonstrated a greater flair for drama than Arozarena? First was the 2020 knockout stage, then most recently this year’s World Baseball Classics. Regardless of the event, the Tampa Bay star made it clear: the brighter the lights, the better he performed. In addition to his ability to advance in key moments, Arozarena’s 16 home runs have kept him just four long balls from the peak of his career.
Why can’t he: For all his personality, it remains a question of how Arozarena will handle the Derby as a first-time entrant. Derby’s best opponents all sped up for three rounds, and it’s easy to imagine Arozarena, like last year’s J-Rod, shining early on before running out of gas.
Pete Alonso
2023 running at home: 25 | Longest: 448 sets
Why he was able to take down J-Rod: There may not be anyone on this planet who would rather participate in the Home Run Derby than Alonso. The Mets’ first player has a chance to become only the second player to win the event three times and will join someone Mariners fans know well if he can make it in Seattle: Ken Griffey Jr.’s 25 home runs. anyone committed to this year’s Derby and he’s hit at least 37 home runs in every full season of his career.
Why can’t he: History can repeat itself. It was Rodriguez who knocked Alonso out of last year’s Derby and that didn’t require the crowd chanting “J-Rod” with every turn. Even so, Alonso is likely the favorite to win again – and if we have a rematch in the 2022 Round 2 match against them, that could very well be the highlight. of the night.
2023 running at home: 11 | Longest: 424 sets
Why he was able to take down J-Rod: Rutschman’s power number alone – just 24 home runs in nearly 700 hits in his career – makes him likely to be underrated in this year’s event, but there’s one thing the Orioles catcher has Prove that he’s really good: win. Rutschman will need to turn himself into a true slugger the same way he has made Orioles a competitor since arriving in Baltimore. As a Portland native who played his college baseball at Oregon State, he should have had plenty of fans at the ballpark hoping he could land a surprise win back in the Northwest. Pacific.
Why can’t he: Aside from the fact that no catcher has ever won a Derby Home Run, Rutschman is known more for his all-around ability than his prowess. His 11 home runs are the fewest of any competition in the field this year, as is his average exit velocity of 88 mph. While Rutschman is clearly one of the game’s brightest young stars, his Statcast page doesn’t shout out the Home Run Derby champion.
2023 running at home: 25 | Longest: 450
Why he was able to take down J-Rod: Robert is in the midst of a breakout year as he has turned his massive tools into major production, featuring 25 home runs in just half a season. 6-foot-2 tall, 220-pound with light tower power, Robert seemed like an ideal opponent in the Home Run Derby — and that 450-foot longest home run in 2023 doesn’t say. up the whole story as his career life span is 487 foot-long balls in 2020.
Why can’t he: Considering his size and ability to hit huge bursts, Robert’s average exit rate of 89.1 this season is a bit low. And even though his 2023 numbers have improved a lot, he still has a tendency to chase pitches — lots of spins and misses in his game, so he He’ll need to be patient and wait for the right pitches under the bright lights of Seattle.
2023 running at home: 21 | longest: 432
Why he was able to take down J-Rod: Perhaps a bit unannounced, Garcia has been one of the game’s best strength players in his first three major league seasons by scoring 79 home runs with plenty of time to spare. add to that total by 2023. Texas Ranger slugger ranks among the elite for both average exit rate (92.4 mph) and maximum exit speed (115.1), and his 50.6% hit rate falls within top 10% of the majors this season. He also spreads his strength across the fields. All in all, this is a player who can shoot the ball very far, very often on Derby night.
Why can’t he: Like Robert, swings and slides are also part of Garcia’s game. If he gets locked up and pitches baseball game after baseball game, he’ll be one of the favorites in the field this year — but consistent communication will be key. .
