2023 MLB Home Run Derby Betting Preview
Major League Baseball’s midseason break is here, as the All-Star Weekend also brings with it another smashing edition of the MLB Home Run Derby contest. Two-time Home Run Derby champion Pete Alonso looks to make history in Seattle on July 10, but there are seven other noteworthy challengers in Alonso’s path.
Nitrobetting is ready to lend a hand to its bettors with their winning bets to be shot out of the park. This time, let’s take a closer look at the hard-hitting sluggers who’ll be participating in the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby in the order of their seeding.
2023 MLB Home Run Derby Entrants
The 2023 Home Run Derby bracket is set.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2023
Who is going to be the champion?! pic.twitter.com/1DraFKCqld
(1) Luis Robert Jr. – Chicago White Sox
As one of the later entrants into the Home Run Derby, the rest of the bracket should definitely fear the inclusion of first-time All-Star Luis Robert Jr. The 25-year-old Cuban doubled his home run production from last year and now has 25 HRs for the season, which is tied for the third-most dingers in the majors. Robert is looking to become the first White Sox player to win the Derby since Hall of Famer Frank Thomas in 1995.
(2) Pete Alonso – New York Mets
Only one player in MLB history has won three Home Run Derby titles. Mets slugger Pete Alonso can join Ken Griffey Jr. with a win on Monday in T-Mobile Park to solidify his place in modern baseball lore. “Polar Bear Pete” is set for a rematch in the first round with Julio Rodriguez, who eliminated him from last year’s Derby and will look to tack on even more taters to his already-record-setting mark of 174 home runs across three Derbies.
(3) Mookie Betts – Los Angeles Dodgers
At a couple of inches under six feet, one would assume that former MVP Mookie Betts lacks the size to be a powerhouse in the Home Run Derby. However, Betts is on pace to knock 40 moon shots out of the park this season, as his 23 HRs are good enough for the fourth-most in the MLB. This is Mookie’s Home Run Derby debut and he could not have picked a better time to get in on the festivities and possibly add even more hardware to his already-loaded trophy case.
(4) Adolis Garcia – Texas Rangers
The final entrant to throw his hat into the Derby mix this year is another standout Cuban in Texas outfielder Adolis Garcia. The 30-year-old has been an integral part of the Rangers’ massive turnaround campaign and has 22 home runs for the season already. Garcia will look to become the first Texas player to win the Derby in three decades and the first Cuban since Yoenis Cespedes won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014.
(5) Randy Arozarena – Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay has not had the best of luck in previous Home Run Derbies, as both of the team’s past entrants, Evan Longoria (2008) and Carlos Pena (2009), were eliminated in the first round. Slugger Randy Arozarena is on pace for a 30-HR campaign and joins his Cuban brethren Robert and Garcia this year as a Home Run Derby champion hopeful. Arozarena will be immediately thrown into a first-round battle against his fellow countryman Garcia, which will be a delight to witness on Monday.
As the son of a former Home Run Derby champ, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is back to make the dream of the first father-son slugging duo to win the Derby a reality. During his lone Derby appearance in 2019 – his rookie season at that – Guerrero set new Home Run Derby records with his 91 total homers in a single contest and a whopping 40 dingers in the first round alone. He’ll face off against Betts in the opening round of this year’s Derby.
vla(7) Julio Rodriguez – Seattle Mariners
Last year’s rookie sensation Julio Rodriguez will look to have an even bigger showing at the Derby in front of the Seattle home fans. Rodriguez took the All-Star Weekend by storm when he crushed 81 long balls in last season’s Derby before falling to Juan Soto in the finals. Those 81 homers are second only to Guerrero’s aforementioned record in a single event, and the 22-year-old Dominican is also the only player to hit 30 or more home runs in multiple rounds of the Derby.
(8) Adley Rutschman – Baltimore Orioles
Star Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman is making his MLB All-Star debut as well as his maiden participation in the Home Run Derby this year. The O’s have a pair of former Derby winners in Cal Ripken Jr. and Miguel Tejada and Rutschman is certainly capable of adding his name to that list. The 25-year-old from Portland can also make MLB history by becoming not just the first catcher to with the Home Run Derby title, but also the first unanimous switch-hitter to win the event since Ruben Sierra ended up tied with Eric Davis for the title in 1989.
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This is just one of the many sports betting guides that you can read here at Nitrobetting news. Stay tuned for more 2023 MLB season previews and articles and don’t forget to check out the latest baseball betting odds on our online crypto sportsbook.
*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.
