Who Will Win the 2017 MLB Home Run Derby?

Who Will Win the 2017 MLB Home Run Derby?

Major League Baseball takes a few days off to celebrate their All-Star Game on Tuesday night — but on Monday we see the Home Run Derby, a display by eight of the game’s biggest sluggers to see who can belt the most long balls. Each of the eight hitters has put up significant power numbers so far this season, so it really comes down to who locks in and sees the ball the best over the course of the rounds. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the latest MLB odds and preview for the 2017 Home Run Derby.

Who Will Win the 2017 MLB Home Run Derby?

When: Monday, 8 p.m. ET Where: Marlins Park, Miami TV: ESPN StreamWatchESPN

Home Run Derby Odds

  • Giancarlo Stanton (Miami) +165
  • Aaron Judge (N.Y. Yankees) +175
  • Cody Bellinger (L.A. Dodgers) +900
  • Miguel Sano (Minnesota) +1000
  • Mike Moustakas (Kansas City) +1400
  • Gary Sanchez (N.Y. Yankees) +1400
  • Justin Bour (Miami) +1400
  • Charlie Blackmon (Colorado) +2000
Obviously, there are some big names left off this list, such as Tampa Bay’s Logan Morrison, who already has 22 home runs on the season — and who caused a stir on social media by pointing out that he has more than twice as many as Gary Sanchez. Sanchez has missed a great deal of the season with a bicep injury — but it probably also helps that he plays in the game’s biggest media market in New York City.

Giancarlo Stanton

He comes in as the defending Derby champion — and he set the record for most home runs in any derby last year, hitting 61 total bombs. Now he comes back to perform in front of his hometown fans. Add that to the fact that Stanton has been healthy all season — a bit of an exception for a player who has been prone to logging time on the disabled list in the past — and he has slammed 26 home runs so far this season (driving in 58 total runs), and you can understand why he is the top seed, and the favorite in the oddsmakers’ books.

Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge is neck and neck with Stanton in the odds, though, and it’s easy to understand why. He has a .329 average, along with 30 home runs and 66 RBI. He stands 6’7” and weighs in at 282 pounds, and while he may not eclipse Stanton’s 536-foot blast anytime soon, he can crush balls out of the park with just as much ease and virtuosity as Stanton can. If you’ve watched Judge’s moon shots this year (and given the fact that he plays for a Yankees team that spent much of April and May contending, you’ve probably seen a ton of them on SportsCenter), then you know that he certainly has what it takes to hold his own in this derby. Aaron Judge is one of the top favorites to win the 2017 Home Run Derby.

Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger might be your best value bet on the odds sheet. Despite only posting 257 at-bats, this Dodgers rookie has already pounded 25 home runs and driven in 58 runs. This comes despite the fact that he plays games in Dodger Stadium, not known for being a hitter-friendly park, and he plays in an unbalanced schedule that features games in two other pitcher-friendly stadiums, San Diego’s Petco Park and Arizona’s Chase Field. He drew Charlie Blackmon in the first round, which could make his path to the semifinals a little bit easier.

Charlie Blackmon

It’s hard to get much of a bead on Blackmon. He does play in Colorado, where the balls tend to fly farther, but his power numbers have been solid on the road as well. As the sixth seed, though, he has a tough path to the trophy, having to beat Bellinger, and then (assuming the top seeds win) potentially Judge and then Stanton.

Miguel Sano and Mike Moustakas

These two are also difficult to read. Both have plugged away with solid seasons, but neither have the dramatic flair for power that mark the top three seeds.

Historic Home Run Derby Facts and Stats

  • Most home runs in a single round: Josh Hamilton with 28 (2008 First Round)
  • Most single-derby home runsGiancarlo Stanton with 61 (2016) (These numbers exclude swingoffs)
  • Most all-time home runs: Todd Frazier with 91 (These numbers exclude swingoffs)
  • Consecutive years as champion: Ken Griffey Jr. (1998, 1999), Yoenis Céspedes (2013, 2014)
  • Wins by team: Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds (3)

Previous MLB Home Run Derby Results

  • 2016 – Giancarlo Stanton. Miami Marlins. National League. Petco Park.
  • 2015 – Todd Frazier. Cincinnati Reds. National League. Great American Ball Park.
  • 2014 – Yoenis Céspedes. Oakland Athletics. American League. Target Field.
  • 2013 – Yoenis Céspedes. Oakland Athletics. American League. Citi Field.
  • 2012 – Prince Fielder. Detroit Tigers. American League. Kauffman Stadium.
  • 2011 – Robinson Canó. New York Yankees. American League. Chase Field.
  • 2010 – David Ortiz. Boston Red Sox. American League. Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Final 2017 Home Run Derby Prediction

I really see Judge and Stanton emerging in the final round and having a battle for the ages, and in front of his home crowd, I would bet on Stanton. If you want to boost your odds a little bit, though, I’d take Bellinger to revel in that rookie moment.