Stacked Derby field set for LA power show (ESPN, 8 ET)
David Adler
@_dadlerThe 2022 T-Mobile Home Run Derby will take place at Dodger Stadium on Monday at 8 p.m. ET. So, who will be swinging for the fences in Los Angeles? Rangers shortstop Corey Seager -- announced as an All-Star replacement -- was named the final entrant of the eight-player field during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby Bracket Show on ESPN Thursday night.
Here is a list of all the sluggers set to swing for the fences in Monday's Derby (seeds determined by participants¡¯ home run totals through July 13):
No. 1 seed: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
28 home runs when seeds were set
Longest HR of 2022: 468 feet, April 20 at Rockies
Hardest-hit HR of 2022: 113.8 mph, May 13 at Dodgers
? It¡¯s been a little while since we¡¯ve seen Schwarber in the Home Run Derby, but his last appearance in 2018 -- which was three teams ago for him -- was pretty impressive. He was the runner-up that year, ultimately losing to Bryce Harper in the final round by a score of 19-18, but Schwarber's overall home run total (55) led the pack.
? Schwarber, who's leading the National League in homers in his first season with the Phillies, could become the first player to win the Home Run Derby in his first season with a new team since Prince Fielder with the Tigers in 2012. Other Derby champions in their debut season with a new club include Miguel Tejada with the Orioles in 2004, Jason Giambi with the Yankees in 2002 and Andre Dawson with the Cubs in 1987.
? Schwarber has been among the hottest hitters in baseball since the calendar turned to June. The left-handed slugger has 18 home runs since June 1, three more than any other hitter over that period. A hot summer is becoming a habit for Schwarber -- he hit 16 long balls in the month of June last season.
No. 8 seed: Albert Pujols, Cardinals
6 home runs when seeds were set
Longest HR of 2022: 426 feet, April 17 at Brewers
Hardest-hit HR of 2022: 109.9 mph, April 17 at Brewers
? At 42 years old, Pujols will become the oldest Home Run Derby participant. It¡¯ll be Pujols¡¯ fifth Derby appearance. Only six others have competed in the event at least that many times (Ken Griffey Jr., Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Prince Fielder, Barry Bonds and David Ortiz).
? Pujols has the most big league home runs of any Derby participant. He's MLB's active leader in homers, with 685 in his career. Pujols could join fellow 600 home run club members Barry Bonds (1996), Ken Griffey Jr. (1994, '98-99) and Sammy Sosa (2000) as a Home Run Derby champion.
? In his final season, Pujols has one last chance at a Derby crown. He's participated in four Home Run Derbies in his career (2003, '07, '09 and '15), the first three as a Cardinal, but has yet to win one. Pujols reached the finals in his first Derby, but lost to Garret Anderson, 9-8. His 71 total Home Run Derby home runs are eighth-most in the history of the contest.
No. 2 seed: Pete Alonso, Mets
23 home runs when seeds were set
Longest HR of 2022: 447 feet, May 19 vs. Cardinals
Hardest-hit HR of 2022: 113.7 mph, May 19 vs. Cardinals
? Could there be a three-Pete? Alonso is the back-to-back defending Home Run Derby champion, winning in 2019 and '21, and he could become the first player ever to win three straight Derbies. Alonso is already one of just three players to win two straight Home Run Derbies, along with Yoenis C¨¦spedes (2013-14) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1998-99). Griffey is the only player to win three total Home Run Derbies, also winning in 1994.
? Alonso has hit 131 career homers in the Derby, the most of any player in a career -- ahead of Joc Pederson¡¯s 99. Granted, the more recent, timed format has made this possible. But it¡¯s impressive nonetheless. Alonso also holds the records for most homers in a first round, with 35 in 2021, and a final round, with 23 in each of the Derbies he¡¯s done.
? A third title for Alonso would be notable for the Mets, too. It¡¯d be the fourth HR Derby title in Mets history, along with Darryl Strawberry¡¯s as a co-champ in 1986. That would tie the Yankees for the most titles of any franchise.
No. 7 seed: Ronald Acu?a Jr., Atlanta Braves
8 home runs when seeds were set
Longest HR of 2022: 464 feet, June 7 vs. A¡¯s
Hardest-hit HR of 2022: 113.8 mph, June 7 vs. A¡¯s
? Acu?a can really hit the long ball. His 495-foot home run on Sept. 25, 2020, is tied for the sixth-longest homer of the Statcast era, and is the longest home run hit by any of this year's Derby participants under Statcast tracking (since 2015). Acu?a's average home run distance this season, 437 feet, also leads the Majors by a full 10 feet -- over two Rockies, Ryan McMahon and C.J. Cron, who get the benefit of being able to slug at Coors Field.???
??This will be Acu?a's second Home Run Derby. He also participated in 2019, the season he nearly joined the 40-40 club with 41 homers and 37 stolen bases. Acu?a won his first-round Derby matchup against Josh Bell, 25-18, but lost to the eventual champion -- and fellow 2022 competitor -- Alonso, 20-19, in the semifinals.
? Having missed considerable time early in 2022, Acu?a has just eight home runs, tied with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2019 for the fourth-fewest first-half homers for any Derby participant. Before this season, only Ivan Rodriguez (six in 2005) and Brady Anderson (seven in 1997) had come into the competition having hit fewer -- Rodriguez will also be joined this season by Pujols, who has six homers in '22.
No. 3 seed: Corey Seager, Rangers
21 home runs when seeds were set
Longest HR of 2022: 435 feet, June 10 at White Sox
Hardest-hit HR of 2022: 110.9 mph, April 30 vs. Braves
?? After heading to Texas in free agency, Seager is heading back to the place where he played the first seven seasons of his career: Dodger Stadium. It will be the second Home Run Derby of the 28-year-old¡¯s career. In 2016, Seager participated in the Derby as a rookie, hitting 15 home runs in the first round but falling to Mark Trumbo.?
?? Even with a slow start, Seager is well on his way to setting a career-high in home runs this season. Seager already has 22 home runs -- the most he¡¯s had in a single season coming into the year was 26 during his rookie season in 2016. The Rangers shortstop has been red-hot in July, with seven home runs -- tied for second-most in baseball -- including a streak of five consecutive games with a homer.
?? With a win, Seager would become just the third shortstop to win the Home Run Derby. Tejada was the last shortstop to win it in 2004. Before that, Cal Ripken Jr. was the first shortstop to win the contest in 1991.
No. 6 seed: Julio Rodr¨ªguez, Mariners
15 home runs when seeds were set
Longest HR of 2022: 450 feet, May 1 at Marlins
Hardest-hit HR of 2022: 114.0 mph, May 15 at Mets
?? Rodr¨ªguez is looking to join some rare rookie territory, as the only first-year players who¡¯ve won the Home Run Derby outright are the Yankees¡¯ Aaron Judge in 2017 and the Mets¡¯ Pete Alonso in 2019. He¡¯ll become the 14th rookie to participate in the contest. At 21 years, 201 days old on Monday, Rodr¨ªguez will be the fourth-youngest Derby participant and could become the youngest winner.
?? The 21-year-old is the only rookie with multiple home runs further than 440 feet this season. He¡¯s posted a hard-hit rate (95+ mph) of just over 50%, ranking in the 94th percentile of MLB, and an average exit velocity of 91.9 mph, in the 91st percentile.
? J-Rod's 114.0 mph home run on May 15 against the Mets at Citi Field is tied for the hardest home run by a Mariner this season -- and it's the hardest home run by anyone in the Home Run Derby this year. His 450-foot moonshot on May 1 is also the longest by a Mariner in 2022.
No. 4 seed: Juan Soto, Nationals
19 home runs when seeds were set
Longest HR of 2022: 451 feet, April 12 at Braves
Hardest-hit HR of 2022: 112.5 mph, April 12 at Braves
? Soto has hit the longest Home Run Derby home run ever tracked -- a 520-foot shot at Coors Field last year that set a new record for the Statcast era?(since 2015). Soto surpassed Aaron Judge's 513-foot home run at Marlins Park in 2017, which was the longest entering the 2021 Derby.
? Soto is well on his way to becoming a Derby regular. He¡¯s the second player to participate at least twice before turning 24, joining Ken Griffey Jr., who did so three times. Soto would be the second-youngest winner, a day older than Juan Gonz¨¢lez in 1993.
? Soto says his goal for this Home Run Derby is to hit the longest opposite-field home run. He'd be the one to do it -- since his debut season in 2018, Soto's 41 opposite-field homers are the most of any left-handed hitter, and tied for second-most overall with J.D. Martinez, behind only Judge.
No. 5 seed: Jos¨¦ Ram¨ªrez, Guardians
17 home runs when seeds were set
Longest HR of 2022: 422 feet, May 28 at Tigers
Hardest-hit HR of 2022: 111.6 mph, April 20 vs. White Sox
? Which side will Ram¨ªrez bat from in the Derby? He's a switch-hitter -- and no switch-hitter has ever won the Home Run Derby outright. Switch-hitter Ruben Sierra shared the Derby crown with Eric Davis back in 1989. Lance Berkman is the only other one to even make the finals, in 2004.
? Ram¨ªrez has hit a lot more home runs as a left-handed batter in his career (although that's in large part a product of getting more plate appearances against righties). He's hit 131 home runs as a lefty, and 51 as a righty.
? Forget about J-Ram going oppo in the Derby. Since his first big power-hitting season in 2017, Ram¨ªrez has pulled 144 of his 163 home runs -- that's over 88%. No one has more pulled home runs than him over that time (Nolan Arenado is next with 137), and of the 75 hitters with at least 100 homers since 2017, no one has pulled a higher percentage of them (former Derby participant Alex Bregman is next at 82%).
Limited tickets are still available for the 2022 T-Mobile Home Run Derby. Visit?allstargame.com/tickets?to learn more.