New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso looks to regain the Home Run Derby title on Monday night in Seattle at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. Alonso was knocked out of the 2022 derby by Mariners’ young star Julio Rodríguez, and they will have a rematch in the first round tonight. Alonso looks to join Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players to win three Home Derby titles.
Alonso enters the derby with a record 194 total home runs during the event. The Mets first baseman is tied for third in MLB with 26 home runs this year. Luis Robert Jr. (26), Adley Rutschman (12), Adolis García (23), Mookie Betts (26), Randy Arozarena (16), and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (13) will join Alonso and Rodríguez (13) in the competition. (Home run totals not up to date in the graphic provided by MLB)
A refresh on the rules:
- The regulation period of rounds 1 & 2 will be 3:00 minutes per batter.
- The regulation period of the final round will be 2:00 minutes per batter.
- The timer starts with release of the first pitch, and a round ends when the timer strikes zero. A home run
shall count provided the pitch was released before the timer strikes zero. - Each batter is allowed to call one 45-second time out in the regulation period of each round (including in
the final round). No time outs are permitted in the bonus period. - Batter with most home runs hit in each matchup will advance to next round.
- Ties in any round will be broken by a 60-second swing-off with no stoppage of time or additional time
added; if a tie remains after the swing-off, batters will engage in successive three-swing swing-offs until
there is a winner. - If the second batter hits more than the first batter in any matchup, he will be declared the winner and not
attempt to hit additional home runs. If this occurs during the regulation period, the batter will not need
the bonus period.
Alonso’s former travel team coach Mike Friedlein was expected to throw to Pete in the derby, but he was scratched with a forearm issue. A Mets batting practice thrower will take his place.
