by Big Al Staff
Monday, Jul 15, 2024The Monday sports card features the MLB Home Run Derby.
Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby takes place on ESPN at 8 PM ET at the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. There are several changes to the format this year.
Eight competitors will take part in an opening round with the top four scorers advancing to the semifinals seeded on the results. Ties are resolved by the longest home run from the competitors in question. A competitor’s round ends after either three minutes or 40 pitches. Each hitter gets to use one timeout. Competitors are then awarded three bonus outs. A fourth out is earned by a home run of at least 425 yards in length.
The semifinals operate under the same guidelines in this knockout stage between seeded opponents, except for resolving ties. If there is a tie in the semifinals or finals, then a 60-second “swing-off” will commence. If there is still a tie after that, then there will be a three-swing “swing-off” to determine a winner.
The final round operates under these guidelines, except for the length of the round. A competitor’s round ends after either two minutes or 27 pitches. Each hitter gets to use one timeout. Competitors are then awarded three bonus outs. A fourth out is earned by a home run of at least 425 yards in length.
Pete Alonso is the favorite to win the Home Run Derby at +340 (all odds from DraftKings). The New York Mets first baseman has 18 home runs this season. His longest home run is 446 feet. He is a two-time winner of this event after winning in 2019 and 2021.
Marcell Ozuna is listed at +400 odds. The Atlanta Braves outfielder has 23 homers this year. His longest home run of the season is 446 feet.
Bobby Witt has +475 odds to win this year’s derby. The Kansas City Royals’ shortstop has 15 home runs this season. His longest home run is 468 feet.
Adolis Garcia is posted at +500 odds. The Texas Rangers outfielder has 17 homers this year. His long was 428 feet. He competed in last year’s event.
Gunnar Henderson is listed at +500 odds. The Baltimore Orioles’ shortstop has 27 home runs this season. His longest home run of the season is 430 feet.
Teoscar Hernandez has +950 odds to win the Home Run Derby. The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder has slammed 19 home runs this year. His long was 431 feet.
Jose Ramirez is listed at +1300 odds. The Cleveland Guardians’ third-baseman has 23 homers this season. His longest home run went 436 feet.
Alec Bohm rounds the list of competitors at +1600 odds to win. The Philadelphia Phillies’ third baseman has clubbed 11 homers this year. His longest home run this season is 427 feet.
Globe Life Field’s dimensions are mostly balanced with slight deviations honoring historic accomplishments by former Rangers players. The left-field line is 329 feet away from home plate, with the left-field power alley being 372 feet away. Straightaway center field is 407 feet away from the plate. The deepest parts of the field are in both straightaway left and right-center field at 410 feet. The right field is 374 feet away, with the right-field line being 326 feet away from home plate.
Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby takes place on ESPN at 8 PM ET at the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. There are several changes to the format this year.
Eight competitors will take part in an opening round with the top four scorers advancing to the semifinals seeded on the results. Ties are resolved by the longest home run from the competitors in question. A competitor’s round ends after either three minutes or 40 pitches. Each hitter gets to use one timeout. Competitors are then awarded three bonus outs. A fourth out is earned by a home run of at least 425 yards in length.
The semifinals operate under the same guidelines in this knockout stage between seeded opponents, except for resolving ties. If there is a tie in the semifinals or finals, then a 60-second “swing-off” will commence. If there is still a tie after that, then there will be a three-swing “swing-off” to determine a winner.
The final round operates under these guidelines, except for the length of the round. A competitor’s round ends after either two minutes or 27 pitches. Each hitter gets to use one timeout. Competitors are then awarded three bonus outs. A fourth out is earned by a home run of at least 425 yards in length.
Pete Alonso is the favorite to win the Home Run Derby at +340 (all odds from DraftKings). The New York Mets first baseman has 18 home runs this season. His longest home run is 446 feet. He is a two-time winner of this event after winning in 2019 and 2021.
Marcell Ozuna is listed at +400 odds. The Atlanta Braves outfielder has 23 homers this year. His longest home run of the season is 446 feet.
Bobby Witt has +475 odds to win this year’s derby. The Kansas City Royals’ shortstop has 15 home runs this season. His longest home run is 468 feet.
Adolis Garcia is posted at +500 odds. The Texas Rangers outfielder has 17 homers this year. His long was 428 feet. He competed in last year’s event.
Gunnar Henderson is listed at +500 odds. The Baltimore Orioles’ shortstop has 27 home runs this season. His longest home run of the season is 430 feet.
Teoscar Hernandez has +950 odds to win the Home Run Derby. The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder has slammed 19 home runs this year. His long was 431 feet.
Jose Ramirez is listed at +1300 odds. The Cleveland Guardians’ third-baseman has 23 homers this season. His longest home run went 436 feet.
Alec Bohm rounds the list of competitors at +1600 odds to win. The Philadelphia Phillies’ third baseman has clubbed 11 homers this year. His longest home run this season is 427 feet.
Globe Life Field’s dimensions are mostly balanced with slight deviations honoring historic accomplishments by former Rangers players. The left-field line is 329 feet away from home plate, with the left-field power alley being 372 feet away. Straightaway center field is 407 feet away from the plate. The deepest parts of the field are in both straightaway left and right-center field at 410 feet. The right field is 374 feet away, with the right-field line being 326 feet away from home plate.
