As the baseball season passes the halfway mark, fans are looking forward to next week’s MLB All-Star Break. While the actual all-star game itself is usually an attraction, so is the home run derby. Homers are already fun to see in actual games, however, there’s something just as exciting as watching some of the MLB’s best hitters hit bomb after bomb to see who’s the best.
Considering how there wasn’t a home run derby last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you can bet that this year’s event means something extra special to players and fans. With that being said, BetOnline has released odds for next Monday’s derby. At +250 odds, the sportsbook is favoring Los Angeles Angels enigma Shohei Ohtani to win this year’s home run derby.
Ohtani has begun becoming a household name with his performance this season. The 27-year-old has showcased his ability as a duel threat, owning a 4-1 record and 3.49 ERA as a pitcher while also leading the MLB with a jaw-dropping 32 home runs in 81 games played. Keeping that in mind, it’s no wonder that BetOnline is favoring Ohtani to win on Monday. After all, his longest home run of the season was 470 feet — the furthest any of the home run derby competitors have sent a ball this season. With the consistency that he’s displayed this season, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Ohtani add another accolade to his collection by the time the all-star break is over.
MLB Home Run Derby Odds
Odds via BetOnline as of Friday, July 9
- Shohei Ohtani (+250)
- Joey Gallo (+475)
- Pete Alonso (+475)
- Matt Olson (+650)
- Salvador Perez (+750)
- Trevor Story (+750)
- Juan Soto (+850)
- Trey Mancini (+900)
Gallo, Alonso Have Second-Best Odds
At +475 odds, both Joey Gallo and Pete Alonso have the second-best odds to win this year’s home run derby. When it comes to Gallo, this will be the Texas Rangers outfielder’s first time entering the competition. He’s no stranger to hitting home runs, though, as he has 23 on the season and 143 on his career. The bad news is that he’s not that great at hitting away from Globe Life Field. Out of his 143 career homers, 136 of them have come at Rangers home games. One has to wonder how that’ll affect Gallo’s performance next week.
One player who isn’t a stranger to the home run derby is New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. While he only has 13 home runs in 2021, Alonso won the competition in 2019 while hitting 57 total home runs on the night. Since there hasn’t been a home run derby since then, Alonso could become the first player to win it back-to-back since Yoenis Céspedes did it in 2013 and 2014.
It’s also important to note that nobody in the MLB has more homers over the last three seasons than Alonso does. The 26-year-old leads all majors players with 84 home runs since the beginning of the 2019 season.
Can Olson Win the Home Run Derby?
A two-time Gold Glove winner, Oakland Athletics 1B Matt Olson (+650) will make his MLB All-Star debut this year and that includes an appearance in the home run derby. He currently leads the Athletics with 21 home runs and is on pace to finish the campaign around the 40-HR mark. Considering he was on the pace for the same number during last year’s shortened season, it’s looking like Olson is cementing himself as one of the best long bomb hitters in baseball. Considering how Athletics players like Céspedes and Mark McGwire have won the derby in the past, look for Olson to surprise some people as he flies under the radar of bigger names.
