Bryce Harper will not be there to defend his Home Run Derby crown this year. With or without Harper, the 2019 Home Run Derby should be a hell lot of fun, as there is never a shortage of powerful hitters ready to torture baseballs. This season has seen an incredible level of home run production. Will we see that trend align to what will happen at the Derby in Cleveland this week? Read on for a breakdown of some of the participants below.
Betting Preview for the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby on July 8 2019
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland
When: Monday, July 8, 2019
TV Broadcast: ESPN
FAVORITES
Christian Yelich
Yelich is putting together yet another sensational season. As of this writing, the Milwaukee Brewers’ outfield is slashing .328/.425/.704. He’s been knocking the cover off of baseballs a lot this year, as he currently leads the majors with 29 homers. Yelich, however, has hit most of his homers at home (21) with just eight of his blasts coming in road games. Still, Yelich can be a beast at the plate when he gets it going.
Pete Alonso
Alonso is pretty much the only bright spot on the Mets’ season. While his team appears to find new ways to sink lower as the season goes deeper, Alonso’s star just seems to shine brighter and brighter. Alonso is a ball of power at the plate. In fact, he is second in the majors — just behind Yelich — with 28 homers to date. No Mets player has won the Derby since Darry Strawberry took home the title way back in 1986, but in Alonso, the team might just see that drought end this year.
SLEEPERS
Carlos Santana
Santana is going to be the most cheered player come Derby day. After all, he’s going to try to jack homers in front of his team’s home fans in Cleveland. All of Cleveland will expect Santana to have a smooth night at the plate without a doubt. While Santana isn’t viewed as the biggest threat in the current field, it’s worth noting that there have been two players since 2013 who won the Home Run Derby winners at their home parks; Todd Frazier won in Cincinnati in 2015 and Bryce Harper took home the crown in 2018 in Washington.
Ronald Acuña Jr.
Acuna is one of the young stars in the league. He’s already a central figure of his team, the Atlanta Braves, thanks to his impressive work at the plate so far in his still nascent career in the majors. As of this writing, Acuna has 20 home runs with a .295 batting average across 84 games. The 2018 National League Rookie of the Year winner will look to accomplish what Braves teammate Freddie Freeman failed to last year, when Freeman fell short of winning the Derby.
LONG SHOT
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Guerrero is arguably the most hyped rookie in Toronto sports over the past several years. And what better way to add more to his growing lore in Canada than becoming the second man in his family to win the Derby. See, Vlad Jr.’s father, Guerrero Sr., won the 2007 edition of the Home Run Derby. Guerro Jr., however, has plenty of lessons to learn in the big leagues, as he is only batting .252 with just eight homers through 55 games this season. Make no mistake about it, though. Guerrero Jr. is a powerful hitter, and all he needs at the Derby is get his rhythm then balls will surely be finding their places on the moon off of his bat.
Writer’s Prediction
Pete Alonso makes Mets fans happy about something for once, by winning the 2019 MLB Home Run Derby.
