For the first time since 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers will not have a participant in the annual Home Run Derby. Max Muncy gave consideration to participating in the slugfest but ultimately decided to prioritize health.
This year’s event still figures to be entertaining as it features some of the most notable sluggers in all of baseball. Brackets in the first round were seeded based on 2021 home run totals leading up to the announcement of the participants on Wednesday.
Ties were broken by awarding the higher seed to the player who reached his current home run total first.
The field of competitors includes Major League home run leader Shohei Ohtani of the L.A. Angels. He concluded the period for which the bracket was determined with 32 home runs and heads into the contest as the No. 1 seed.
Ohtani will face Juan Soto, who earned the No. 8 seed after slugging 11 home runs in the first half. Soto looks to become just the second Washington Nationals player to win the Home Run Derby, following Bryce Harper, who won the event in 2018.
Texas Rangers right fielder Joey Gallo claimed the No. 2 seed amid a monstrous home run tear. He finished the first half with 23 homers, 10 of which were hit from June 26 and on.
Gallo will take on hometown star Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies, who earned the No. 7 seed with 11 home runs in the first half. Story looks to join Harper, Todd Frazier and Ryne Sandberg as the only players to win the Home Run Derby at their home ballpark.
Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson is the No. 3 seed after hitting 21 home runs in the first half. Since making his debut in 2017, he ranks fourth in MLB with 120 home runs, trailing only Nelson Cruz, J.D. Martinez and Eugenio Suárez.
Olson will be matched up against No. 6 seed Trey Mancini of the Baltimore Orioles, who hit 15 home runs in the first half. He missed the shortened 2020 season while being treated for Stage 3 colon cancer and is using that as motivation in competing this year.
Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez hit 20 home runs in the first half and earned the No. 4 seed. He looks to become the first backstop in MLB history to win the Home Run Derby.
Perez will go head-to-head with reigning Home Run Derby winner and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who claimed the No. 5 seed with 15 home runs. If he is able to repeat, Alonso will join Ken Griffey Jr., Prince Fielder and Yoenis Céspedes as the only multi-time champions.
Home Run Derby rules, broadcast info & start time
Each of the eight hitters will have five minutes to hit as many home runs as possible. Winners of the first round matchups will advance to the semifinals, and then the two semifinal winners will meet in the final round.
Hitters can earn a 30-second bonus for two home runs hit over 440 feet. A 45-second timeout is allowed for each player in every round.
The 2021 T-Mobile Home Run Derby will be held at Coors Field in Colorado, and broadcast live by ESPN and MLB.com, beginning at 5 p.m. PT.
In addition to coverage on ESPN and MLB.com, the Derby will be broadcast live on ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App. ESPN2 will simulcast the event in Spanish via ESPN Deportes’ live coverage. The Home Run Derby will also air on ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio.
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