Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani is MLB Home Run Derby No.1 seed

New York food slugger Pete Alonso, secret weapons in tow, is ready to defend the crown of the Home Run Derby he captured in 2019, but Los Angeles Angels Star Shohei Ohtani is the # 1 seed in this year’s bracket.

The eight-player Home Run Derby pitch was officially revealed on Wednesday night and Alonso’s rivals will include Ohtani, Texas Rangers right fielder Joey gallo (seed n ° 2), Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson (N ° 3), Kansas City Royals recipient Salvador Perez (Number 4), Baltimore Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini (Number 6), Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor’s story (N ° 7) and Washington Nationals right fielder Juan soto (No. 8).

Alonso, who is the No. 5 seed and defeated Vladimir Guerrero Jr. during the last tour in Cleveland two years ago, will be outfitted with eight custom painted bats, with phrases like “Family First” and “LFGM” as well as a tribute to “300”, her favorite movie.

“Every time I’m in the box it’s my mentality,” Alonso told ESPN’s Joon Lee. “Even though I’m nine to one outnumbered, I’m in my small zone, like when the Spartans defended, only 300 of them defended through thick and thin. That’s how I describe my way of doing it. to play.”

While hometown fans will cheer on Story, Ohtani is the big draw. He was the big individual story of the first half with his performance as a batter and pitcher and leads the majors with 32 home runs, including plenty of tape measure variety. Ohtani will start Tuesday’s All-Star Game as DH and Angels manager Joe Maddon spoke to AHL skipper Kevin Cash about using Ohtani as a pitcher.

Ohtani announced his intention to compete in the Derby in June. He becomes the first Japanese player in the competition.

“I’ve always wanted to see a Japanese player take part in the Derby, and it turns out that’s me,” Ohtani said via his interpreter at the time. “It’s really exciting for me.”

An overview of the participants:

• Ohtani (32 circuits): He’s not only set to break the Angels franchise record of 47 homers in one season, he has a chance of reaching 60 after hitting 13 homers in June and four so far in July. Season circuit: 470 feet.

• Gallo (23 circuits): Known for his prodigious power when he goes online, fans have long been clamoring for Gallo to participate in the Home Run Derby. He’s been hot lately, hitting two more home runs on Wednesday to give him 10 in his last 10 games. Season circuit: 462 feet.

• Olson (21 circuits): Olson has hit 36 ​​home runs in just 127 games in 2019 and he’s on track to surpass that career high in 2021. He’s also improved at home plate after hitting .195 last season, reducing his strikeout to nearly half and increasing its mean to 0.283. Season circuit: 445 feet.

• Perez (20 circuits): Perez will make his sixth All-Star start behind the plate and should easily surpass his career high of 27 homers, which he has done twice. Its power is no coincidence as it ranks ninth among the majors for average exit speed at 93.0 mph. Season circuit: 460 feet.

• Alonso (15 circuits): He was unable to match his home run rate of 2019, when he set a rookie record with 53, but few players have hit the ball as hard as he ranks 11th for the average exit speed. He should take advantage of Coors Field because 14 of his 15 home runs have come on the road. Season circuit: 443 feet.

• Mancini (15 home runs): One of the best stories of the season, Mancini missed the whole of 2020 after undergoing treatment for colon cancer. He hit 35 home runs in 2019 and started hot in 2021, though he’s only had four home runs since early June. Season circuit: 451 feet.

• History (11 home runs): Story’s home run count is down from the 37 he hit in 2018 and 35 in 2019, but no one doubts his power. It could also be a kind of farewell for him to Coloradd as he is a post-season free agent and the Rockies may be looking to trade him after the all-star break. Season circuit: 466 feet.

• Soto (11 circuits): Soto’s offensive numbers are disappointing after leading the National League on average, OBP and slugging in 2020, but he has the youthful enthusiasm that could work well in the Derby. Season circuit: 437 feet.

Since the new Home Run Derby format was introduced in 2015, Guerrero has held the lap record of 40, when he broke Pederson game, 40 to 39. This included three swing-offs, each having 29 in regulation (corresponding to Guerrero’s total in the first round). With the ball set to fly at Coors Field, that record could certainly be compromised.

Ken Griffey Jr. won the last Home Run Derby at Coors Field, scoring 19 home runs in 1998, beating Jim Thome’s 17.