The 2023 All-Star festivities have already kicked off, with this previous weekend that includes the Futures Recreation and the beginning of the MLB Draft. The draft continued at present and tonight will characteristic the Residence Run Derby, adopted by extra drafting and the All-Star sport tomorrow. The derby is usually about leisure, although there’s additionally a $1MM prize on the road. That’s chump change to quite a lot of these gamers, however not all. The runner-up will get $500K and one another participant will get $150K. The participant who hits the longest house run will get an additional $100K. It kicks off at 7pm Central time tonight.

The competitors will proceed with head-to-head matchups in a bracket with these eight gamers, continuing so as of their seeding: Luis Robert Jr., Pete Alonso, Mookie Betts, Adolis García, Randy Arozarena, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Julio Rodríguez and Adley Rutschman. Defending champion Juan Soto isn’t collaborating this 12 months, leaving the throne open for the taking. Let’s check out the matchups and a few of their stats.

• Luis Robert Jr. OF, White Sox: Robert is having his finest season in some ways, together with within the energy division. He got here into the 12 months with 36 house runs in 222 video games however already has 26 this season in simply 89 contests. He’s hitting .271/.330/.569 total for a wRC+ of 143. He has a median exit velocity of 89 mph, max of 113.6 mph and a 15.9% barrel fee. That is his first time collaborating within the house run derby.
• Adley Rutschman, C, Orioles: Rutschman debuted final 12 months and hit 13 house runs in 113 video games however is already as much as 12 this 12 months after simply 86 contests. He’s hitting .273/.376/.423 on the season for a wRC+ of 125. He has a median exit velocity of 87.9 mph, max of 111.1 mph and a 6.7% barrel fee. That is his first time collaborating within the house run derby.

__

• Adolis García, OF, Rangers: García broke out in 2021 with a 31-homer marketing campaign, added one other 27 final 12 months and already has 23 right here in 2023. Financially, he’s most likely the participant with probably the most to achieve from the prize cash. He’s but to succeed in arbitration and that $1MM complete is greater than his annual wage. He bought a $2.5MM bonus when signing with the Cardinals, however that was means again in 2017. Rutschman is the one different participant within the subject that’s each pre-arb and hasn’t signed an extension, however he bought a signing bonus of $8.1MM when signing in 2019. Garcia is hitting .261/.331/.517 this 12 months for a wRC+ of 131. He’s hitting .273/.376/.423 on the entire for a wRC+ of 125. He has a median exit velocity of 92.2 mph, max of 115.1 mph and a 16.4% barrel fee. That is his first time collaborating within the derby.
• Randy Arozarena, OF, Rays: Arozarena vaulted himself onto the nationwide stage with 10 house runs within the 2020 postseason. He adopted that up by hitting 20 in every of the previous two seasons and has one other 16 right here in 2023. He’s hitting .279/.388/.467 on the 12 months for a wRC+ of 147. He has a median exit velocity of 92.9 mph, max of 114.3 mph and a 14.6% barrel fee. That is his first time collaborating within the derby.

__

• Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets: Alonso is probably the most profitable derby participant of the group, profitable the competitors back-to-back in 2019 and 2021. There was no derby in 2020 because of the pandemic. He tried to win a 3rd consecutive title final 12 months however was defeated by J-Rod within the semis. He has 172 profession house runs and is at 26 this 12 months. He’s slashing .211/.310/.497 for a wRC+ of 123. He has a median exit velocity of 89.2 mph, max of 113.7 mph and a 14.8% barrel fee.
• Julio Rodríguez, OF, Mariners: Rodríguez would be the hometown favourite with the festivities going down in Seattle this 12 months. As talked about, he took out Alonso a 12 months in the past however fell to Juan Soto within the finals. He hit 28 house runs as a rookie final 12 months and has added 13 extra this 12 months. He’s hitting .249/.310/.411 for a wRC+ of 105. He has a median exit velocity of 92.8 mph, max of 115.5 mph and a 9.8% barrel fee.

__

• Mookie Betts, IF/OF, Dodgers: Betts is 30 years outdated and that is his seventh time within the All-Star sport however this shall be his first derby. He has 239 profession house runs, together with 26 this 12 months. He’s batting .276/.379/.586 total for a wRC+ of 157. He has a median exit velocity of 92.5 mph, max of 110.1 mph and a 12.8% barrel fee.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays: Guerrero placed on a present within the 2019 contest, hitting 91 house runs total however falling simply in need of Alonso within the remaining spherical. He has 117 homers in his profession and 13 right here in 2023. He’s slashing .274/.344/.443 for a wRC+ of 120. He has a median exit velocity of 94.3 mph, max of 116.7 mph and a 13.6% barrel fee.

__

The winner of Robert/Rutschman will sq. off in opposition to the winner of García/Arozarena within the semis, whereas the winner of Alonso/Rodríguez will face the winner of Betts/Guerrero. Earlier than we get to who you suppose will win, let’s begin with who you wish to win. (Hyperlink to ballot for app customers)

And who do you suppose will win the 2021 Residence Run Derby? (Hyperlink to ballot for app customers)