Everyone digs the longball.
Major League Baseball’s 2022 Home Run Derby is Monday night at 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on the eve of the 92nd All-Star Game. This year’s derby features some of the top sluggers in baseball, including two-time defending champion Pete Alonso, who would be the first player in history to win three contests in a row.
The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber, who leads the National League with 29 home runs at the break, is the No. 1 overall seed and faces 42-year-old Albert Pujols in the first round. Pujols, playing his last season, has participated in the derby four times in his career – 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2015.
The first Home Run Derby took place in 1985 and this is the first time that Dodger Stadium will host the event.
ALL-STAR GAME: Clayton Kershaw will get the start at Dodger Stadium
MLB SUPERLATIVES: Best and worst from the first half
Keep it here throughout the night for live coverage of the Home Run Derby:
First round matchups
No. 1 Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) vs. No. 8 Albert Pujols (Cardinals)
2022 stats: Schwarber has 29 home runs, Pujols has 6
No. 2 Pete Alonso (Mets) vs. No. 7 Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves)
2022: Alonso has 24 home runs, Acuña has 8
No. 3 Corey Seager (Rangers) vs. No. 6 Julio Rodriguez (Mariners)
2022: Seager has 22 home runs, Rodriguez has 16
No. 4. Juan Soto Nationals vs. No. 5 Jose Ramirez (Guardians)
2022: Soto has 20 home runs, Ramirez has 19
Pete Alonso shows off derby bat
The “Polar Bear” is carrying some special lumber.
Alonso brings back pitcher Dave Jauss
Last year, the two-time defending champion had then-Mets bench coach Dave Jauss as his pitcher for the Home Run Derby. Despite Jauss now working as an advisor in the Nationals organization, he’s going to throw to Alonso on Monday in Los Angeles.
Watch highlights from last year’s Home Run Derby
