2023 Home Run Derby Best Bets

Isn’t it hard to believe we have already reached the Major League Baseball All Star break? Well, here we are in Seattle for one of the most exciting events of the summer, the Home Run Derby. Eight of the best sluggers in the game will take part in this thrilling event where each player will have three minutes to hit as many home runs as possible in a single-elimination style bracket.

Of course, there are ways to accumulate bonus time, such as hitting two home runs of 440 feet or longer, as well as a free 30-second bonus once the regulation clock expires. Last year, it was Juan Soto who took home the trophy, walking off against Julio Rodríguez who lost the derby despite hitting 82 total home runs over three rounds, which was 29 more than Soto managed to hit. While Soto isn’t making the trip to defend his crown, Rodriguez returns as he looks for some revenge in front of his home crowd in Seattle. Additionally, two-time champion Pete Alonso is back looking for his third title, along with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Mookie Betts, Luis Robert Jr., Adley Rutschman, Randy Arozarena and Adolis García. It should be another thrilling derby, so let’s see how we can expect things to play out with my favorite bets for the event.

First Round

(odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Luis Robert Jr. (-215) over Adley Rutschman (+175)
Randy Arozarena (+115) over Adolis García (-140)
Mookie Betts (+170) over Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (-210)
Pete Alonso (-170) over Julio Rodríguez (+140)

<img src="https://d2y4ihze0bzr5g.cloudfront.net/source/2020/Pete_Alonso.jpg" alt="

I like Alonso to hit the most home runs in the first round. This is a really interesting matchup, as Julio Rodríguez posted 32 home runs in the opening round last year, then 31 in the second round. As the higher seed, Alonso should be hitting second in this matchup, and I believe Rodriguez sets a pretty high tone in this matchup. Both of these two could very well end up with the highest first-round totals in the entire event, and I have Alonso walking it off to advance.