While it would be great to have any of the aforementioned players participating, the contest is a physically demanding one, and many of those stars are already banged up if not out entirely. Neither are Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, or Fernando Tatis Jr., for various reasons.

Only two active runners-up, Kyle Schwarber (2018) and Albert Pujols (2003) are here Mancini (2021), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Of the four previous champions who are still active, Bryce Harper (2018 winner) is on the injured list, Giancarlo Stanton (2016) and Aaron Judge (2017) both declined the opportunity to participate, and Robinson Canó (2011) is far removed from his power-hitting days. Given his experience with the format, Alonso has to be considered the favorite from among the eight participants. Three-Peat, Three-Pete - we’ll never hear the end of it if he wins the event, which airs at 8 pm ET on ESPN on Monday night. This year, he has a chance not only to tie Griffey but also to become the first player to win three in a row. In beating out upstart Trey Mancini last summer, Alonso became the fourth two-time winner in Derby history, joining Ken Griffey Jr. The difference may not matter to two-time defending champion Pete Alonso, who won at Progressive Field with its 653-foot elevation in 2019, as well as last year at Coors. The difference is hardly trivial when it comes to the hard-hit fly balls that are the stuff of Home Run Derbies based on league-wide data from 2021 and ’22, those hit with exit velocities of 95 mph or higher traveled an average of 31 fewer feet at Dodger Stadium (361 feet) than at Coors Field (392 feet). What’s 4,700 or so feet of elevation between friends? Where last year’s Home Run Derby was held in the majors’ most homer-conducive venue, mile-high Coors Field, this year’s event will be held in Dodger Stadium, which is an estimated 522 feet above sea level.

Home run derby participants 2021