Francisco Lindor talks Pete Alonso’s Home Run Derby expectations
Mets’ Francisco Lindor talks Pete Alonso’s Home Run Derby expectations as he looks to win his third title.
Sports Seriously
Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby takes place Monday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas the day before the 2024 All-Star Game.
This year’s event features a new set of rules, with all eight hitters competing against each other in the first round – and four moving onto the semifinals – after strict head-to-head matchups in recent years.
Two-time champion Pete Alonso (2019 and 2021) of the New York Mets enters as the odds-on favorite, but he was knocked out in the first round last year and is hoping to re-claim his crown three years after his last win.
Globe Life Field, home of the Rangers, has played as one of the most home run-friendly parks in baseball since it opened in 2020.
Follow along for live updates from Monday night’s slugfest in Texas:
The top four from the first round advance to the semifinals.
- Alec Bohm – 20
- Bobby Witt Jr. – 19
- Teoscar Hernandez – 19
- Adolis Garcia – 18
Yet to hit:
- Pete Alonso
- Jose Ramirez
- Marcell Ozuna
- Gunnar Henderson
Two-time Derby winner Pete Alonso is up next, looking to equal Ken Griffey Jr.’s record three titles. Alonso won in 2019 and 2021, but came up short the last two seasons.
The Dodgers outfielder finished his round with 19 longballs, equaling his first-half total in his first season with the Dodgers.
Halfway through the first round now, the first four hitters all finished between 18 and 20.
Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is the fourth hitter, and enters the All-Star break with 19 home runs in his first season with the team.
Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia hit 18 homers in the first round, playing in his home ballpark. He had the crowd fired up, but finished behind the first two hitter – Alec Bohm with 20 and Bobby Witt Jr. with 19.
Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. clubbed 20 home runs in his opening round, the right-handed hitter pepping the left field seats. He tacked on a few in the bonus time, but finished behind leadoff hitter Bohm.
Entering the Derby with the worst odds to win, Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm came out hot with an impressive 21 home runs in the first round, setting a pretty high bar.
Bohm only had 11 home runs before the All-Star break, which would be the fewest by any Home Run Derby winner.
Monday’s Home Run Derby begins at 8 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The Home Run Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN (watch FREE on Fubo), with streaming available on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
The 2024 Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field features eight participants:
- Pete Alonso, Mets
- Alec Bohm, Phillies
- Adolis Garcia, Rangers
- Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
- Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers
- Marcell Ozuna, Braves
- Jose Ramirez, Guardians
- Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
The 2024 Home Run Derby will no longer be a strict tournament style, as we’ve seen in the past. Instead, all eight hitters will compete against one another in the first round, with the four best performers advancing to the semifinals and seeded 1-4 based on how many home runs they hit in the first round. Tiebreakers will be determined by each hitter’s longest home run.
Through the first two rounds, each hitter will have three minutes, or 40 total pitches (whichever comes first), to rack up as many home runs as they can. Each will be granted one 45-second timeout that cannot be used during bonus time (which is awarded for home runs longer than 425 feet). The finals will only grant hitters two minutes or 27 pitches (excluding bonus time).
Globe Life Field opened in 2020:
- Left field line: 329 feet
- Left field power alley: 372 feet
- Center field: 407 feet
- Deepest parts (left and right of CF): 410 feet
- Right field power alley: 374 feet
- Right field line: 326 feet
2024 Home Run Derby betting predictions
- Pete Alonso: +310
- Gunnar Henderson: +400
- Bobby Witt Jr.: +425
- Marcell Ozuna: +450
- Adolis Garcia: +600
- Teoscar Hernandez: +1100
- Jose Ramirez: +1400
- Alec Bohm: +2200
Here’s a look at the Home Run Derby champions from the past 20 years:
- 2023: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
- 2022: Juan Soto, Nationals
- 2021: Pete Alonso, Mets
- 2020: Not held (COVID)
- 2019: Pete Alonso, Mets
- 2018: Bryce Harper, Nationals
- 2017: Aaron Judge, Yankees
- 2016: Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
- 2015: Todd Frazier, Reds
- 2014: Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics
- 2013: Yoenis Cespedes, Athletics
- 2012: Prince Fielder, Tigers
- 2011: Robinson Cano, Yankees
- 2010: David Ortiz, Red Sox
- 2009: Prince Fielder, Brewers
- 2008: Justin Morneau, Twins
- 2007: Vladimir Guerrero, Angels
- 2006: Ryan Howard, Phillies
- 2005: Bobby Abreu, Phillies
- 2004: Miguel Tejada, Orioles
Pete Alonso is getting another crack at tying the Home Run Derby record.
During his rookie season in 2019, Alonso won the Home Run Derby crown at Progressive Field in Cleveland before defending his title in 2021 at Coors Field in Denver. He also competed in 2022 and 2023. He leads MLB with 220 home runs since 2019.
Ken Griffey Jr. is the only player in MLB history to win three Home Run Derby crowns.
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge leads MLB with 34 home runs at the All-Star break, but he chose not to participate in this year’s Home Run Derby.
“I’m not doing it. There’s no need this year,” Judge told reporters. “I’m not done with it. Once it’s back in New York, I’ll be there.”
Judge won the 2017 Derby as a rookie, but hasn’t participated since.
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