The Home Run Derby is one of the staples of the baseball season and of All-Star Game week. Having baseballs best home run hitters participate in the tournament and compete for their respective charities. For the first time since 2001, the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby will take place at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. In 2001, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Luis Gonzalez took home the trophy with 16 total home runs. Defeating players such as Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Jason Giambi, and Álex Rodríguez. This year’s Home Run Derby sees the return of a few familiar faces. One of them, New York Mets first baseman and two-time derby winner Pete Alonso.
Pete Alonso To Participate in the 2023 Home Run Derby
During the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball telecast of the Mets-Giants game at Citi Field, Alonso announced that he will be in the tournament. This will be the fourth time in his career that Alonso will compete in the Home Run Derby,
The two-time champ is ready to do it again. 🐻❄️ pic.twitter.com/Lov73dZmv1
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 2, 2023
It’s official: Pete’s back in the derby ‼️ pic.twitter.com/M2pe0pdBC9
— New York Mets (@Mets) July 2, 2023
The Mets first baseman joins an already stacked field of sluggers that consists of Mookie Betts, Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Of the five competitors, Alonso is the only one who has won the Home Run Derby before, winning it in 2019 and 2021, hitting a combined total of 131 home runs.
Pete Alonso To Face Familiar Foes
As previously mentioned, four other players will participate alongside Alonso, and he knows two of them well. In the 2019 Derby, Alonso defeated Guerrero Jr in the final round. Just edging out the Blue Jays superstar 23-21. Last year’s Derby would see a different outcome for Alonso. In the second round against Rodriguez, Alonso would fall 31-23. Ending his bid for his third straight Home Run Derby crown. On July 10th in Seattle, Alonso looks to join Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. with three Home Run Derby titles at the house that The Kid built.
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Photo Credit- Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned- Luis Gonzales, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, Pete Alonso, Mookie Betts, Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.., Ken Griffey Jr.
