This week, ahead of the 2022 Home run Derby, we’re starting to get leaks of the various participants. We got word that 2-time defending champ Pete Alonso is back to defend his Home run Derby title. We heard that the league is putting in retiring future Hall of famer Albert Pujols, and our own Juan Soto (who isn’t the all-or-nothing HR power hitter like some of these guys, but who did have a monstrous 520-foot shot last year).
That’s awesome. But … what would be the absolutely, ideal HR derby in 2022?
For reference, here’s MLB’s list of past HR derby winners. And here’s Wiki’s page which shows all the participants each year. And here’s a list of the 10 longest homers this year.
Here’s who i’d like to see in my optimal HR derby.
- Pete Alonso, who won it in 2019 and 2021 and will be tough to dethrone.
- Giancarlo Stanton: because, yeah, he hits bombs. And he won it in 2016. And his exit velocity is crazy.
- Aaron Judge, who goes into the all-star break leading the league with (as of today) 30 dingers. And because he hits bombs.
- Kyle Schwarber, runner up to Harper (controversially) in 2018, but also a HR hitting machine. Currently sits 2nd in the league in 2022. When he gets warmed up, he can hit a lot of HRs, quick.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: would love to see his wild swing connecting in the derby.
- Yordan Alvarez, owner of one of the longest HRs of the season, currently sits 3rd in the league for Homers in 2022, hits bombs.
- C.J. Cron; he’s a beast built like a linebacker who can really get into one; two of the 10 longest HRs this year are his.
- Juan Soto: entered last year, hits for power, but on a down year this year.
Honorable Mentions:
- Bryce Harper, the 2018 winner. Unfortunately, he’s got a broken hand so he’s out.
- Joey Gallo: he’s only hitting .166 this year, but man he can hit some dingers.
- Shohei Ohtani; the best player in the game not named Trout can destroy balls, and would be awesome in the competition.
- Mike Trout: every year he manages to make the top 10 list of longest homers, one year hitting one nearly 500 feet. But he gets squeezed out of this list. Perhaps he shouldn’t; he’s on a sneaky good season pushing for 50.
- Byron Buxton doesn’t make his way onto most people’s minds for prolific home run hitter, but he’s got multiple 450′ shots this year and is top 10 in the league for HRs right now.
- Austin Riley can hit some balls.
- Rhys Hoskins isn’t a bad choice.
- I’ve always liked Cody Bellinger‘s sweet lefty swing; 47 homers in 2019 as a 23yr old MVP, but he’s struggled with injury since.
So, that’s my ideal list. lets see how close we get to it.
2022 post-publishing: Actual finalized list of 2022 HR derby participants with thoughts:
- Alonso: good.
- Soto: good.
- Pujols: I get it … he’s a HoFamer, but he’s taking up a spot.
- Ronald Acuna … not a name even from my HMs. He’s clearly a super star player in the league … but do you think “towering power” when you hear his name?
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