Everyone loves the home run derby, right? If not why did you click the link to read this? Tonight the home run derby will take place in Los Angeles. You can watch it at 8pm ET on ESPN. There are eight players that will be stepping into the batters box tonight, and it’s an interesting group.
Pete Alonso is the 2-time defending champion and he’s coming back. He’ll face off against Ronald Acuna Jr. in the first round. Top seed, and Middletown legend Kyle Schwarber will take on baseball legend Albert Pujols in the first round. Juan Soto will face Jose Ramirez in their first round match up. Then we’ll get to see star Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez face off against Corey Seager in the last match up in the first round.
There’s a lot of fun with the home run derby, and it’s not always the winner that is the most remembered aspect. You’ve got Ken Griffey Jr. hitting the warehouse in Baltimore, Josh Hamilton putting on an absolute show at Yankee Stadium, Mark McGwire hitting baseballs to New York when he was standing at the plate in Fenway, Todd Frazier going on a run against the clock to win in his home ballpark right before he then went on twitter and blocked half of Cincinnati. The list goes on and on.
How many home runs a player hits is fun. But how far a guy hits a home run is sometimes just as fun. When these guys are out there hitting 475+ foot home runs out of ballparks or into areas of ballparks that never see baseballs land it’s a real joy. Unless you hate having fun, that is.
Who do you think is going to win? Who’s going to hit the furthest home run? How many home runs will Albert Pujols hit in the first round?
My picks? Juan Soto wins it, Ronald Acuna Jr. hits a home run to the moon, and Albert Pujols hits 9 home runs in the first round.
Julio Rodriguez had a great first round. One of these other guys better get the Reds bullpen out there pitching to them if they want to catch Julio.
You called it Doug, and Moon you got the other finalist.
I wish they would have had this when Wally Post was in his prime. He really had some awesome power.
One of my favorite Red’s outfield trios; they were offensive thumpers: Gus Bell, Wally Post and Jim Greengrass.
I casually watched some of this. Pujols being included as a “legacy” made me chuckle – and then he advanced.
I do have to wonder how many of these guys have their swings messed up a bit from the event. I recall that had an impact on Frazier back in2015.
I think watching the home run derby is like watching a slo-pitch softball game I went to bed after first round.
Honestly, I found the entire ESPN production to be so underwhelming that I turned it off before the final round. The camera angle from behind the plate was a terrible view, the broadcast team was lackluster and exceptionally dull, and the broadcast played down the crowd noise and player dialogue to feature the broadcast team that couldn’t even keep up with the number of home runs being hit. And can we just do away with the “bonus” time (which I know is driven by a single advertiser)?
Who won the Derby?
One of my fav days of the year tonight. Been watching this game for 50 years. And for the first time EVER I get to root for the AL! (Thx to Arrogant Phil and Cheapo Bob for that!). Can’t wait to see Vlad Jr and Kirk in the starting lineup plus our ace and closer and a couple other bench guys. Go AL!!!
First time rooting on the winning side of the All-Star game since 2012, thanks Arrogant Phil and Cheapo Bob, glad I had somewhere else to go!