A story that’s made for a Hollywood ending, Mets slugger Pete Alonso is making his way to the West Coast to try and lock down an unprecedented third Home Run Derby trophy in a row.
The “Polar Bear” mashed a total of 74 home runs en route to his second Dinger King crown, tying him with a number of players to have won multiple Derbies. Only one player, though, has three Home Run Derby trophies on the mantle: A guy named Ken Griffey Jr.
This year, Alonso will be joined by plenty of rival NL East sluggers: Kyle Schwarber (Phillies), Juan Soto (Nationals) and Ronald Acuña (Braves) round off the division’s representation, while rookie Julio Rodriguez (Mariners), José Ramirez (Guardians) and Albert Pujols (Cardinals) round out the field.
Here’s how the field shakes out this year:
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Home Run Derby bracket 2022
Here are the eight entrants for this year’s Home Run Derby:
Pete Alonso, Mets Kyle Schwarber, Phillies Juan Soto, Nationals Ronald Acuña, Braves Julio Rodriguez, Mariners José Ramirez, Guardians Albert Pujols, Cardinals Corey Seager, Rangers
And here are the matchups:
Bracket 1
Bracket 2
Bracket 3
Bracket 4
Home Run Derby predictions
Joe Rivera (@JoeRiveraSN): It’s hard to believe that Kyle Schwarber has only ever been in one other Home Run Derby, and it’s hard to believe that he won’t win this one. I’ve got Schwarbs in 2022.
Jason Foster (@ByJasonFoster): There are so many mashers competing that it could go to anyone. But it’s hard to bet against a Three-Pete, as in Pete Alonso winning for the third straight year. But don’t sleep on Juan Soto.
Home Run Derby odds
Odds are via Vegas Insider:
Pete Alonso (N. Y. Mets) +200 Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia) +330 Ronald Acuna, Jr. (Atlanta) +600 Juan Soto (Washington) +600 Corey Seager (Texas) +900 Julio Rodriguez (Seattle) +1000 Jose Ramirez (Cleveland) +1600 Albert Pujols (St. Louis) +2200
