Home Run Derby 2022: Fan and Expert Hot Takes for Top Participants

Pete Alonso will try to become the first player in Home Run Derby history to win the event three times in a row on Monday night at Dodger Stadium.

The New York Mets first baseman won the home-run hitting crown in 2019 and 2021 in Cleveland and Denver.

Alonso is viewed as the favorite to win the Home Run Derby, but there are cases to be made for everyone in the field, even 42-year-old Albert Pujols.

Pujols' case to win is that Monday represents one of the last times he will be in the national spotlight and he could put on an unexpected show.

Kyle Schwarber has the most regular-season home runs of the eight participants. The Philadelphia outfielder faces Pujols in the first round of the bracketed competition.

Juan Soto and Jose Ramirez were placed in Schwarber's side of the bracket. Alonso faces Ronald Acuna Jr. in the first round. Corey Seager and Julio Rodriguez reside in the other matchup on the bottom half of the bracket.

The bottom side of the bracket should have the most entertaining first-round matchups.

Alonso, the two-time champion, gets to face Acuna in an all-National League East battle, while Seager and Rodriguez face off in an American League West showdown.

B/R Walk Off posed the question on which first-round matchup will be the best one. The Alonso-Acuna and Seager-Rodriguez clashes received plenty of votes from commenters.

MLB's official Twitter account displayed the "Derby Chain" that will be handed to winner in Los Angeles.

Each of the eight participants received love in the comments of that tweet, but Alonso and Schwarber seemed to have plenty of fans going in their favor.

Alonso and Schwarber both have prior experience in the Derby and could face off in the final as the top two seeds.

An anonymous player described as a "veteran slugger" told ESPN.com that someone with experience is the best hitter to end Alonso's reign.

"Earlier this summer, a veteran slugger mused about the Home Run Derby this summer, about Alonso's dominance, and suggested that it would take somebody with prior experience in the event to take down the two-time defending champion. "It's a grueling event," the slugger said. "You are exhausted. And nobody who is dealing with that for the first time is going to beat him."

Schwarber was defeated by his current teammate Bryce Harper in the 2018 final when he was on the Chicago Cubs and Harper played for the Washington Nationals.

Schwarber ranks seventh in Home Run Derby history for most homers hit in a single event. He hit 55 long balls in 2018. Alonso has the second and sixth best totals on that list with 74 and 57 in 2021 and 2019 respectively.

Juan Soto, Corey Seager, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Pujols have all competed in a Home Run Derby before. Soto hit the ninth-most homers in a single Derby last season at Coors Field (46). Pujols ranks eighth all-time in total homers hit in the Home Run Derby (71).

Acuna was eliminated in the second round by Alonso in the 2019 derby and Seager did not make it out of the first round in 2016. Rodriguez and Jose Ramirez are the only first-time participants.

Even though there is plenty of experience in the field, Alonso and Schwarber are the most popular picks.

Four members of the USA Today staff that predicted the Derby winner went with Alonso. The Athletic had three writers go with either Alonso or Schwarber. Rodriguez and Soto also received picks from The Athletic's staff.

A large amount of dingers are expected in Los Angeles on Monday night and the conditions will only aid that.

According to Ballpark Pal, the wind will be blowing out to right-center field at nine miles per hour.

Monday's event has a high standard to live up to after the 2021 event at Coors Field produced 309 total home runs, 74 of which were hit by Alonso.