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July 6 (UPI) — Two-time champion Pete Alonso will go head to head with 2022 runner-up Julio Rodriguez in one of four first-round matchups at the 2023 Home Run Derby, as announced by MLB.
MLB revealed the matchups for the eight-player field on Wednesday night, with the Home Run Derby set to take place on Monday in Seattle.
Alonso, a previous winner in 2019 and 2021, holds the No. 2 seed in the tournament. The New York Mets first baseman has hit 25 home runs with 58 RBIs in his first 78 games this season.
Rodriguez has a total of 13 home runs, 47 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases in his first 83 games of 2023. The Seattle Mariners outfielder hit 28 home runs, recorded 75 RBIs, and stole 25 bases in 132 games last season.
Rodriguez, the 2022 American League Rookie of the Year, lost to San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto in the 2022 Home Run Derby finale, despite hitting the most home runs of any participant with 82 in the three-round event.
Chicago White Sox centerfielder Luis Robert Jr. holds the top seed in the 2023 Home Run Derby and will face Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman in the first round.
Robert has hit 25 home runs in his first 84 games this season, tied with Alonso for the third-most in MLB, behind only Shohei Ohtani (31) and Matt Olson (29).
Rutschman has collected 11 home runs and 36 RBIs in 82 games in 2023.
Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia will go head to head with Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena in another first-round matchup.
Garcia has a total of 22 home runs and a league-leading 71 RBIs in 86 games this season. Arozarena has logged 16 home runs and 58 RBIs in 84 games.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts will face Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the other first-round matchup.
Betts has totaled 23 home runs and 57 RBIs in 83 games in 2023. Guerrero has hit 13 homers and logged 54 RBIs.
The winner of the Betts-Guerrero matchup will face Alonso or Rodriguez in the second round. The winner of the Robert-Rutschman matchup will face Garcia or Arozarena for a spot in the finale.
Home Run Derby seeds were determined based on player home run totals as of July 4.
The 2023 MLB Home Run Derby will be televised at 8 p.m. EDT on Monday, on ESPN. The All-Star Game is set to air at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, on Fox.
