The All-Star Home Run Derby is set for Coors Field in Colorado. MLB officials are not hiding the fact that the derby baseballs will not be placed in a humidor. Many expect we will see home runs soar 500+ feet. If you love home runs, this is the event for you.
Not all of the names in the field are prolific home run hitters, but the favorites certainly have to be Shohei Ohtani, Joey Gallo, and reigning 2019 Derby champ Pete Alonso. There is also Rockies shortstop Trevor Story who has the homefield advantage. There is also the youthful Juan Soto who is an underdog in this event, but he could surprise many.
“It might mess with the swing of all the guys who are locked in, but I think it’s going to fix mine because I’m hitting too many groundballs. I hope it fixed by swing trying to put the ball in the air,” Soto said.
Soto has the highest hard hit ball per swing rate this year, but his balls are being driven into the ground too often. A few times Soto has looked like he fixed his swing, but days later his swing is back to hitting balls into the infield grass.
Soto to the MOON. 😱 pic.twitter.com/mkpfeugIzr
— MLB (@MLB) August 12, 2020
In a real game, Soto crushed a 466 footer that almost left CitiField. It is the longest recorded homer of his career.
“Hit everything oppo,” Soto said. “I’m going lefty-lefty. I’m just going to try to hit the ball in the air and see how far it can land.”
The rest of the field is Matt Olson, Trey Mancini, and Salvador Perez, and many years there is an underdog who wins it. Could anything match the excitement of the 2018 Nats Park derby with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber.
Reportedly, Ohtani hit a BP homer at 510 feet already today, so get ready.
