Home Run Derby 2013: Highlighting Contenders With Best Chance at Victory

Seven of the eight participants in the 2013 MLB Home Run Derby were announced on Monday, as Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine tweeted:

So who will win the 2013 showcase? Will it be a two-time Derby champion or might it be baseball's current leader in home runs?

Here are my rankings for this year's display of power set for Monday, July 15, at Citi Field.

*All stats via ESPN.com

3. Prince Fielder, 1B, Detroit Tigers

Prince Fielder may only have 15 home runs up to this point, but then again, he had 15 home runs before the All-Star break last season and went on to win the Home Run Derby. When it comes to the two-time Home Run Derby champion, throw the season's stats out the window and focus on one thing, and one thing only: his tremendous power. The defending champion hit 28 home runs in the competition last season, fifth all-time in Derby history.

2. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies

Carlos Gonzalez ranks third in baseball in home runs with 24 this season and is third in slugging percentage at .619. He also ranks second in extra-base hits (52). Last year at the Derby, "CarGo" managed only four home runs in the first round, failing to advanced to the second round. Then again, he had seven fewer home runs before the All-Star break last year.

1. Chris Davis, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

Chris Davis leads baseball in home runs (33), slugging percentage (.707) and extra-base hits (59) this season. He has already matched his 2012 production in home runs and RBI. He has hit a home run in every 9.7 at-bats this season. Eight of Davis' 33 home runs have been "no doubts," according to ESPN Home Run Tracker. That is, eight of them have "cleared the fence by at least 20 vertical feet and landed at least 50 feet past the fence." Only Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez leads Davis in that category.