National League sluggers threaten to thwart Pete Alonso's Home Run Derby three-peat
Pete Alonso turned MLB's Home Run Derby into a personal showcase event, and he stands on the brink tonight of accomplishing the unprecedented.
The New York Mets' first baseman can become the first to win three consecutive derbies should he fulfill expectations as the +200 favorite in the eight-batter competition at Dodger Stadium.
The 27-year-old has helped lift the Mets to first place in the National League East over the defending-champion Atlanta Braves by swatting 24 home runs and knocking in 78 RBI this season.
After defeating Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2019 final and Baltimore’s Trey Mancini last year, Alonso’s push for a “three-Pete” requires him to out-bash a group including Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto.
Only Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. has won the Home Run Derby three times, but they were in non-successive years.
Schwarber leads the National League with 29 homers and stands as the derby’s second choice at +250, according to Tipico Sportsbook.
Acuna has homered just eight times this season, but his ability to leave the yard is profound — based on his 41-homer campaign of 2019. Tipico has designated him as the +550 third choice along with Soto, who’s struck 20 homers this season.
Acuna is Tipico’s +200 favorite to hit the farthest home run, with Schwarber at +350, Soto at +500 and Alonso at +650.
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Soto, 23, could use the exhibition as a marketing arm for a potential trade after he rejected the Nationals’ 15-year, $440 million extension offer, a move that leaves Washington strongly considering offers before the Aug. 2 trade deadline.
The derby adds a living legend in St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols, 42, who has an astounding 685 career home runs.
Pujols is a 20/1 long-shot, according to Tipico.
The remaining entrants are Julio Rodriguez (9/1), the 21-year-old outfielder who’s paced the Seattle Mariners to a 14-game winning streak; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (10/1), who marks a return to his former home stadium; and Jose Ramirez (15/1), the Cleveland Guardians' third baseman who signed a $141 million extension earlier this season.
Last year, Alonso smashed a total of 74 home runs to win the derby, a sharp increase from the 57 he needed to outlast Guerrero in 2019.
KEEP READING: Time, bracket, TV channel, live stream for 2022 MLB Home Run Derby
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