July 15th, 2024
MLB.com
This field is set for the 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby, which will take place tonight (8 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Globe Life Field in Arlington.
- Play Home Run Derby Pick 'Em, compete for $100,000!
Here's a breakdown of the eight sluggers who are set to square off in this year's version of the annual power-hitting competition.
Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
Current HR total: 28
Longest HR of 2024: 430 feet, June 10 vs. Rays
Hardest-hit HR of 2024: 112.3 mph, April 29 vs. Yankees
Henderson belted 28 home runs in his 2023 AL Rookie of the Year campaign, and he equaled that number in the first half of the '24 season. He'll follow teammate Adley Rutschman and make his Derby debut after Rutschman made his first Derby appearance in Seattle last year.
Pete Alonso, Mets
Current HR total: 19
Longest HR of 2024: 446 feet, June 4 vs. Nationals
Hardest-hit HR of 2024: 115.3 mph, May 16 vs. Phillies
This marks the fifth Derby appearance for Alonso, who has participated in each year’s competition since 2019 -- outside of 2020 when there were no All-Star Game festivities due to COVID-19. Alonso won in both 2019 and ‘21 and with a win this year, he would tie Ken Griffey Jr. for the most Derby titles since the competition began in 1985.
Alec Bohm, Phillies
Current HR total: 11
Longest HR of 2024: 427 feet, June 30 vs. Marlins
Hardest-hit HR of 2024: 106.8 mph, June 30 vs. Marlins
Though he's never been a prolific home run hitter -- his career high in a season is 20 -- he definitely has pop. Four of his 11 homers this season have traveled 415 or more feet and nine of the 11 have been hit with an exit velocity of 101.9 mph or better. Bohm has been a doubles machine so far in 2024, but now he'll attempt to up his game just for the fun of it.
Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
Current HR total: 16
Longest HR of 2024: 468 feet, May 21 vs. Tigers
Hardest-hit HR of 2024: 112.0 mph, July 7 vs. Rockies
A native of Colleyville, Texas, which is a short drive from Arlington, Witt will have a chance to make his Home Run Derby debut in his own backyard. After a breakout 2023 season that saw him produce the first 30/30 campaign in franchise history, Witt has been even better this year, earning his first All-Star nod as a result.
Although this will be Witt's first go in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, he won the High School HR Derby held at Nationals Park in 2018, the summer before he was drafted.
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 8, 2024Bobby Baseball is about to put on a show.
See you at the Home Run Derby! pic.twitter.com/zm1rPZsqhe
Marcell Ozuna, Braves
Current HR total: 26
Longest HR of 2024: 446 feet, April 12 vs. Marlins
Hardest-hit HR of 2024: 114.6 mph, April 12 vs. Marlins
Another player making his Home Run Derby debut, Ozuna has stepped up in a big way for an Atlanta team that lost reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. to a torn ACL and has had a number of key hitters take a step back from 2023. The right-handed slugger reached the 40-homer mark for the first time in 2023 and has a shot to do so again this season.
José Ramírez, Guardians
Current HR total: 23
Longest HR of 2024: 436 feet, June 28 vs. Royals
Hardest-hit HR of 2024: 109.8 mph, June 24 vs. Orioles
With the first 40-homer season of his career in play, Ramírez will step into the Home Run Derby spotlight for the second time after participating in 2022. He came up short against Juan Soto in the first round despite hitting 17 home runs.
Let’s run it back. pic.twitter.com/Vpz1oD2i5n
— Jose Ramirez (@MrLapara) July 9, 2024
Adolis García, Rangers
Current HR total: 17
Longest HR of 2024: 428 feet, April 1 vs. Rays
Hardest-hit HR of 2024: 110.1 mph, April 1 vs. Rays
Representing the host club, García will aim to become just the fourth player to win the Home Run Derby in his home ballpark, following Ryne Sandberg with the Cubs in 1990, Todd Frazier with the Reds in 2015 and Bryce Harper with the Nationals in 2018. García got his first taste of the Derby a year ago, losing his first-round matchup to the Rays' Randy Arozarena. He finished the season with 39 homers before hitting eight more -- including five in the AL Championship Series -- during Texas’ run to a World Series title.
Ready to put on a show for the home crowd. #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/eeMRgOh1nP
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 10, 2024
Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers
Current HR total: 19
Longest HR of 2024: 431 feet, April 1 vs. Giants
Hardest-hit HR of 2024: 108.0 mph, May 6 vs. Marlins
Shohei Ohtani may be getting more attention, but Hernández has been a strong addition to the Dodgers’ lineup in his own right. Hernández, who will be making his Derby debut, has a chance to reach the 30-homer mark for the second time in his career.