MLB Home Run Derby Betting Guide: Strategies, Statistics & Picks

Horse Racing stats man, Andy has contributed to OLBG for 18 years - An Ipswich fan and F1 fanatic, he also contributes EFL football and Motor Sport opinion.

2024 Home Run Derby Preview

The 2024 Home Run Derby will take place on the 16th of July 2024 and will be hosted for the first time at the Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The Home Run Derby has only previously been held at the home of the Rangers once in the past, that was in 1995 when they were playing at the Ballpark in Arlington, Hall of Famer Frank Thomas won it on that occasion.

In this blog, we will look at a guide to Globe Life Field, a look at which players have previously won the home run derby, and also, how the 2023 home run derby was won and give you some links to other MLB content you may be interested in.

Don't forget that after the home run derby is complete, that is not it for the all-star break, we have also covered the All-Star Game on the following day with a look at past winners and statistics.

National League is taking Control!

Despite the American League still leading for producing the number of winners of the derby, the National League has now won 4 of the last 5 with the Mets & Nationals producing two winners apiece.

Once the participants are selected and announced and we get closer to the event, the sportsbooks will put up the home run derby betting odds and you will be able to see the home run derby picks from our handicappers over on the MLB Baseball Picks page and if you are planning on having a wager on the event then before doing so have a read of our Best Sportsbook for MLB Betting guide.

How was the 2023 Derby Won?

Eight players lined up in the 2023 home run derby, Luis Robert Jr. was given the number 1 seed whilst hat-trick-seeking Pete Alonso was the number 2 seed.

2023 Home Run Derby Quarter-Finals

The number 1 seed Luis Robert Jr. just about made it out of the quarter finals with a 28-27 victory over number eight seed Adley Rutschman.

Pete Alonso came up against an in-form Julio Rodríguez who hit 41 homers compared to Alonso's 21, by far the most home runs in this round.

In the other two matchups, Betts didn't turn up, his 11 homers were not near enough to defeat Guerrero Jr (26) and Arozarena made it through with a 24-17 win over García.

2023 Home Run Derby Semi-Finals

Down to four, only 1 of the top 4 seeds left in, number 1 seed Luis Robert Jr. couldn't make it any further, his 22 home runs were not enough with Randy Arozarena scoring 35.

The other semi-final was a much closer affair with just one run in it with Guerrero Jr outscoring Rodríguez 21-20 to make it through to the final.

2023 Home Run Derby Final

So, the final consisted of the 5th and 6th seeds who were Randy Arozarena (Rays) who had scored 59 home runs to get here against Vladimir Guerrero Jr (Blue Jays) who had scored 62 homers on his way to the final.

Who would be taking home the $1m prize money for winning? It was Vladimir Guerrero Jr who came out on top with 25 home runs to Arozarena's 23 homers!

Globe Life Field Guide

Home to the Texas Rangers, the Globe Life Field broke ground in September 2017, there were complications during construction, part of the roof caught on fire in 2019, it cost a total of $1.1bn.

It was officially opened in May 2020 for high school graduation, the first game took place in July 2020 and the first fans attended in October 2020.

The stadium has a slightly shorter right field compared to left field with 326ft to right and 329ft to left whilst to the center field wall, it is 407ft.

In addition to the left field being 3ft further, the wall is also 6ft higher than it is to the right field! The left-field wall is 14ft high whilst the right-field wall is only 8ft high.

The best MLB handicappers will take all of this into account when deciding on their predictions, will it suit a righty more than a lefty or will that have little impact on the outcome of the event?

Previous Home Run Derby Winners

The first-ever home run derby took place in 1985 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota where Dave Parker of the Cincinnati Reds won the event, and since then it has taken every year bar 1988 and 2020.

The 2024 event will be the 38th time this has been staged and we have had 39 previous winners, both the 1986 & 1989 tournaments saw multiple winners in the same year.

So far the American League has provided the most winners, 22 winners were playing for an American League team at the time of winning compared to 17 who were playing for a National League team, however, the National League has produced four of the last five winners.

Last Ten Home Run Derby Winners

Year	Winner	Stadium
2023	Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (AL) Toronto Blue Jays	T-Mobile Park (SEA)
2022	Juan Soto (NL) Washington Nationals	Dodger Stadium (LAD)
2021	Pete Alonso (NL) New York Mets	Coors Field (COL)
2019	Pete Alonso (NL) New York Mets	Progressive Field (CLE)
2018	Bryce Harper (NL) Washington Nationals	Nationals Park (WAS)
2017	Aaron Judge (AL) New York Yankees	Marlins Park (MIA)
2016	Giancarlo Stanton (NL) Miami Marlins	Petco Park (SD)
2015	Todd Frazier (NL) Cincinnati Reds	Great American Ball Park (CIN)
2014	Yoenis Céspedes (AL) Oakland Athletics	Target Field (MIN)
2013	Yoenis Céspedes (AL) Oakland Athletics	Citi Field (NYM)

Article Contributor Information

Andy Powell stands as the linchpin behind OLBG's dynamic baseball content, blending his passion for the MLB and international leagues like NPB and KBO by creating and maintaining the baseball content on OLBG which includes this Home Run Derby Preview.

Andy Powell

Content editor

Andy Powell, an ardent Pittsburgh Pirates supporter and MLB enthusiast, extends his passion for baseball across borders, delving into the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) and KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) leagues. His dedication to these diverse baseball landscapes enriches OLBG's comprehensive coverage.

MLB Content

Not only have we covered the home run derby but we also have plenty of other MLB articles that you might be interested in.

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