The 2023 T-Mobile Home Run Derby bracket was announced Wednesday night. White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. will be the 1 seed and taking on Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman in the first round.
Second seed Pete Alonso will be seeking to join Ken Griffey Jr. as only players to win the event three times.
ESPN will exclusively televise the 2023 T Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday, July 10, at 8 p.m. ET from T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington.
The home run derby now seems to be more popular than the actual all-star game. However, there is only so much “back, back, back” I can take during the derby. I always find it fascinating when the so called “experts” insist that either this player or that player is going to win it.
The truth is, NOBODY knows for sure! This thing is so unpredictable. I’ve seen many favorites win in my lifetime and many long shots as well. I will be looking for value as usual when putting a few for entertainment purposes only dollars on any one player.
Beyond the Home Run Derby – All-Star Game Fun Facts
Each of MLB’s 30 teams must be represented by at least one All-Star selection, although that selection doesn’t have to play in the game or even be healthy at the moment. There will also be plenty of injury replacements are chosen by the league.
The Braves topped the field with eight All-Star selections this year, followed by the Rangers and Dodgers with five while the Orioles and Blue Jays are sending four players apiece.
The Braves’ eight All-Stars is the most by any team since the 2012 Rangers also had eight.
The Dodgers have at least five All-Stars for the fourth consecutive season while the Blue Jays have at least four for the third consecutive season. You can find the American and National league rosters right here.
I still watch the MLB All-Star game every year because to me, it’s by far the most competitive of the four major sports. Below is a list of all the home run derby participants and some fun facts for each. More on all of this later today on Shemon and Sheppard.
1 Luis Robert Jr
25 HR this season, only Shohei Ohtani (31) has more in the AL.
6th different White Sox hitter to compete in Home Run Derby (Carlton Fisk, Frank Thomas 2x, Paul Konerko, Jermaine Dye, Todd Frazier).
Seeking to become 2nd White Sox to win a Home Run Derby (1995 Frank Thomas).
Longest HR this season: 450 feet on July 4 vs Blue Jays
Luis Robert Jr. #88 of the Chicago White Sox hits a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 4, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
8 Adley Rutschman
Orioles are 117-90 (.565) since Adley Rutschman made his MLB debut on May 21, 2022 (5th-best record in MLB in that span).
13th different Orioles hitter to compete in Home Run Derby (Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken Jr. 3x, Mickey Tettleton, Brady Anderson 2x, Rafael Palmerio 2x, B.J. Surhoff, Miguel Tejada 2x, Chris Davis, Adam Jones, Manny Machado, Mark Trumbo, Trey Mancini.
Seeking to become 3rd different Oriole to win a Home Run Derby (1991 Cal Ripken Jr. | 2004 Miguel Tejada).
Longest HR this season: 424 feet on May 18 vs Angels
Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a double in the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 13, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
2 Pete Alonso
171 HR since making debut in 2019, most in MLB over that span.
Seeking to join Ken Griffey Jr. as only players to win the event three times.
Won Home Run Derby in 2019 & 2021, becoming the third player to win back-to-back Home Run Derbies (Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998-99, Yoenis Céspedes in 2013-14).
Longest HR this season: 448 feet on June 6 at Braves
Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets hits a home-run during the eighth inning of the game against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on July 02, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
7 Julio Rodríguez
Hit 81 home runs in last year’s Home Run Derby, 2nd-most in a single HR Derby all-time (Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 91 HR in 2019); both Guerrero Jr. and Julio Rodríguez finished runner-up.
Hit 33,573 feet of home runs (approx. 6.4 miles) in last year’s Home Run Derby.
Seeking to become 2nd Mariner to win a Home Run Derby (Ken Griffey Jr. won it 3 times — 1994, 1998, 1999).
Seeking to become 4th player to win the Home Run Derby at home ballpark, joining Ryne Sandberg (1990 Cubs), Todd Frazier (2015 – Reds), and Bryce Harper (2018 – Nationals).
Longest HR this season: 454 feet on May 7 vs Astros
Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners hits an RBI single in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on July 04, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
3 Mookie Betts
23 HR this season, tied for his most HR before the All-Star break in his career (also had 23 HR before All-Star break in 2018 when he won AL MVP with Red Sox).
10th different Dodgers hitter to compete in Home Run Derby (Mike Piazza 2x, Raúl Mondesi, Hee-Seop Choi, Matt Kemp 2x, Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson 2x, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy).
Seeking to become the 1st Dodger to win the Home Run Derby.
Longest HR this season: 426 feet on May 12 vs Padres
Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the dugout in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium on July 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
25 HR this season, only Shohei Ohtani (31) has more in the AL.
Hit 91 home runs during the 2019 Home Run Derby, the most any player has hit in a single Home Run Derby all time.
Seeking to become 1st Blue Jay to win the Home Run Derby.
Longest HR: 450 feet on May 3 vs Red Sox
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays hits an RBI double in the seventh inning of game two of a double-header against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 6, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
4 Adolis García
Leads MLB with 71 RBI this season, while his 22 HR match the most before the All-Star break in his career (22HR pre-ASG in 2021).
12th different Rangers hitter to compete in Home Run Derby (Rubén Sierra, Juan González, Iván Rodríguez, Alex Rodriguez 2x, Hank Blalock, Mark Teixeira, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Prince Fielder, Joey Gallo, Corey Seager).
Seeking to become 3rd Ranger to win the Home Run Derby (1989 Rubén Sierra | 1993 Juan González).
Longest HR this season: 432 feet vs Athletics
Adolis Garcia #53 of the Texas Rangers reacts with Tony Beasley #27 of the Texas Rangers after hitting a two run home run during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 05, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Nick Grace/Getty Images)
5 Randy Arozarena
16 HR this season are already 4 shy of matching his career high (20 HR in both 2021 & 2022).
3rd different Rays hitter to compete in Home Run Derby (Evan Longoria, Carlos Peña).
1 of 3 Cuban-born players competing in this year’s Home Run Derby, alongside Robert Jr. & García.
Longest HR this season: 436 feet on April 2 vs Tigers
Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays gives a thumbs-up to a fan between innings against the Philadelphia Phillies at Tropicana Field on July 4, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
