2019 Dwelling Run Derby contributors, bracket and why every slugger might win

Highlighted by an MVP on a 50-plus dwelling run tempo, a rookie with monster energy, and the youngest to ever make the sphere, the eight contestants who will attempt to be part of latest Dwelling Run Derby winners comparable to Bryce Harper (2018), Aaron Decide (2017) and Giancarlo Stanton (2016) have been revealed. The stakes are even increased this summer season, because the champion shall be rewarded with $1 million for the primary time in All-Star historical past.

This is what you have to know concerning the sluggers who shall be swinging for the fences as a part of the 2019 All-Star festivities in Cleveland.

Watch the MLB All-Star Dwelling Run Derby dwell from Progressive Subject: Monday at eight p.m. ET on ESPN.

The 2019 Dwelling Run Derby bracket is about ⚾️

MLB HR chief Christian Yelich headlines the sphere of eight that can face off on Monday at 8PM ET on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/R2VhXcvnQ4

— ESPN (@espn) July four, 2019

No. 1: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

Joe Robbins/Getty Pictures

2019 dwelling runs: 31 | Profession whole: 126 | Longest of ’19: 462 ft

Why Yelich can win it: Effectively, he leads the key leagues in dwelling runs, as he is the primary Nationwide League participant with 30 earlier than the All-Star break since Albert Pujols in 2009. Additionally: He hits the ball exhausting, with solely Aaron Decide and Joey Gallo proudly owning a better common exit velocity. That ought to translate nicely to the Dwelling Run Derby, even when Yelich is not a pure fly ball hitter like many different prime sluggers.

Why we will not wait to see him in Cleveland: Proving his 2018 MVP award was no fluke, Yelich has gotten even higher, solidifying his standing as top-of-the-line gamers within the recreation, with an opportunity to be the primary back-to-back MVP within the Nationwide League since Pujols in 2008 and 2009. He is additionally the primary reigning MVP winner to take part within the Dwelling Run Derby since Pujols in 2009.

Do you know? The 2018 Nationwide League MVP had 29 homers coming into July, fourth most by a reigning MVP earlier than July 1, in line with Elias Sports activities Bureau analysis. Yelich would be the 10th Brewers participant to take part within the Derby, however he is seeking to be part of Prince Fielder as the one winners. — ESPN Stats & Data

No. 2: Pete Alonso, New York Mets

Andy Marlin/USA TODAY Sports activities

2019 dwelling runs: 28 | Profession whole: 28 | Longest of ’19: 458 ft

Why Alonso can win it: Uhh, good day? Have you ever seen how far he hits the ball? He leads the majors with 20 dwelling runs of 400-plus ft, together with six of 440-plus. His pop flies can nonetheless depart the park.

Dwelling Run Derby odds

Josh Bell3-1Christian Yelich4-1Pete Alonso5-1Vlad Guerrero Jr.5-1Joc Pederson8-1Carlos Santana8-1Alex Bregman12-1Ronald Acuna Jr.12-1Source: Caesars

Why we will not wait to see him in Cleveland: We love rookies, we love large guys and we love rookies who play in New York and hit large dwelling runs. Like Decide in 2017, Alonso has the chance to win over followers throughout the nation with a victory within the Derby.

Do you know? Alonso already has set the Mets rookie document for dwelling runs in a season, surpassing Darryl Strawberry’s 26 in 1983. Alonso shall be chasing Strawberry once more on the Dwelling Run Derby. Strawberry is the one Mets participant to win the occasion, doing so in 1986. — ESPN Stats & Data

No. three: Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates

AP Photograph/Matt York

2019 dwelling runs: 26 | Profession whole: 67 | Longest of ’19: 474 ft

Why Bell can win it: Uhh, good day? Have you ever seen how far he hits the ball? Bell’s breakout season has been immortalized with a few dwelling runs into the Allegheny River past the right-field stands at PNC Park — he turned simply the fourth participant in PNC historical past to achieve the river on the fly. These blasts registered 472 and 454 ft on the Statcast measuring stick, and he has hit three different dwelling runs of 450-plus ft.

Why we will not wait to see him in Cleveland: Bell may need much more uncooked energy than Alonso and could possibly be the man most able to reaching the 500-foot threshold through the occasion. He is additionally an affable persona who deserves a second within the highlight on the nationwide stage.

Do you know? Bell is the sixth Pirates participant to take part within the Dwelling Run Derby, and the bar hasn’t been set too excessive for him. Regardless of sending MVP-caliber gamers comparable to Barry Bonds and Andrew McCutchen beforehand, no Pirates participant has ever hit greater than six dwelling runs in a single Derby look, a lot much less ever gained the Derby. — ESPN Stats & Data

No. four: Alex Bregman, Houston Astros

Bob Levey/Getty Pictures

2019 dwelling runs: 23 | Profession whole: 81 | Longest of ’19: 440 ft

Why Bregman can win it: As a result of you understand he needs to win the Derby. He participated final 12 months and hit 15 dwelling runs, though he misplaced his matchup to Kyle Schwarber, who hit 16. His fast, pull-heavy swing is suited nicely for the Derby even when he would not have the uncooked energy of among the different guys within the discipline. As his 23 dwelling runs point out, nevertheless, he would not have any points reaching the seats when it counts, both.

Why we will not wait to see him in Cleveland: He is develop into one of many faces of the sport, not only for his stellar play (he was fifth within the MVP voting final season), however for his persona and enthusiasm. As Astros supervisor AJ Hinch likes to say, no person likes to play the sport as a lot as Bregman. He is good for the Astros and good for the sport.

Do you know? Bregman has hit 54 dwelling runs over the previous two seasons — he has pulled 41 of them, seven went to middle and solely six went to the other discipline. One of the best Derby efficiency by an Astros participant was Lance Berkman’s runner-up end in 2004.

No. 5: Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers

Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire

2019 dwelling runs: 20 | Profession whole: 107 | Longest of ’19: 445 ft

Why Pederson can win it: He virtually gained as a rookie in 2015 in Cincinnati, beating Manny Machado and Albert Pujols earlier than shedding to Todd Frazier within the last, 15 to 14, in a controversial end (Frazier’s brother was clearly delivering pitches earlier than the earlier ball had landed, supposedly towards the principles).

This 12 months’s All-Star Sport is Tuesday, July 9, at Progressive Subject in Cleveland. This is what you have to know concerning the groups and all of the festivities. Rosters, schedules, evaluation

Why we will not wait to see him in Cleveland: Effectively, let’s be sincere: We might desire to have Dodgers teammate Cody Bellinger right here as an alternative of Pederson. Not that Pederson cannot blast the lengthy ball: He has hit 20 dwelling runs although he is a platoon participant (all 20 of his dwelling runs have come towards right-handed pitching).

Do you know? Over the previous two seasons, Pederson is 10th within the majors in slugging proportion towards right-handed pitchers (.564 coming into Wednesday’s recreation). In remoted energy, he is fifth behind solely Mike Trout, Christian Yelich, Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy. Pederson’s runner-up end within the 2015 Derby was the most effective by a Dodgers participant.

No. 6: Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports activities

2019 dwelling runs: 20 | Profession whole: 46 | Longest of ’19: 466 ft

Why Acuña can win it: Did you see the 437-foot laser he hit off Noah Syndergaard … to the other discipline? Acuña’s all-fields energy has helped him become an elite masher at simply 21 years outdated — 12 of his 20 dwelling runs have gone to middle discipline or the other discipline — and perhaps that trait will assist him win in Cleveland.

Why we will not wait to see him in Cleveland: He is a budding future MVP candidate, and his showmanship and enthusiasm make him some of the thrilling, dynamic gamers within the recreation. He is good and he is aware of it, and he is guess to placed on a present.

Do you know? Acuña will attempt to do one thing no Braves participant has ever performed on the Dwelling Run Derby: advance previous the primary spherical. Atlanta has despatched a participant to the Derby 11 occasions beforehand, and each was eradicated within the first spherical. That is by far essentially the most appearances with no participant advancing, greater than doubling up the Pirates and Padres (5 every). — ESPN Stats & Data

No. 7: Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians

AP Photograph/David J. Phillip

2019 dwelling runs: 19 | Profession whole: 217 | Longest of ’19: 447 ft

Why Santana can win it: He might journey the hometown assist to the championship — suppose Todd Frazier profitable in Cincinnati in 2015 or Bryce Harper final 12 months in Washington and even Justin Bour mashing 22 dwelling runs at Marlins Park in 2017 (though he misplaced to Decide, who hit 23). The power of the followers at all times appears to assist with just a little further adrenaline.

Why we will not wait to see him in Cleveland: He has lengthy been an underrated participant due to on-base potential and he is having a terrific bounce-back season in his return to Cleveland, making his first All-Star Sport. It is at all times enjoyable to have a hometown rep for the followers to cheer on.

Do you know? Santana will develop into the primary Indians participant to take part within the Dwelling Run Derby since Grady Sizemore in 2008, and he is seeking to develop into the primary Indians participant to win it. — ESPN Stats & Data

No. eight: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

Quinn Harris/USA TODAY Sports activities

2019 dwelling runs: eight | Profession whole: eight | Longest of ’19: 451 ft

Why Guerrero can win it: He hasn’t come roaring out of the gate in his rookie season, however try the distances on his dwelling runs: 451, 438, 436, 434, 424, 407, 395, 382. The uncooked energy is there, and his batting-practice classes are legendary.

Why we will not wait to see him in Cleveland: The much-hyped rookie is already a family title, so this contest is made to advertise a participant like him. Plus, there is not a lot purpose to look at the Blue Jays this season, so this is likely to be the one alternative some followers must see him aside from in highlights.

Do you know? Guerrero’s eight dwelling runs are the fewest profession homers by any Dwelling Run Derby participant for the reason that occasion started in 1985. (Kris Bryant had 12 profession HRs in 2015 when he participated, the present low.) Vlad Sr. gained the occasion in 2007, and the Guerreros will be part of the Fielders (Cecil and Prince) as the one father-son duos to compete within the Derby. Vlad Jr. can be attempting to carry dwelling a title for Toronto. The Blue Jays have despatched 15 contributors to the Derby (second all time) however have by no means gained. — ESPN Stats & Data