In a night that is nearly as highly anticipated as the actual game itself, eight All Star players will take to Coors Field – the home of the Colorado Rockies – to compete in the annual Home Run Derby contest after a year away due to the Covid pandemic.

Located in Denver, Coors Field is a mile above sea level which results in thinner air and the ball flying much further. It is anticipated that the balls will be flying very far during tonight’s friendly competition.

In honour of home run king Hank Aaron who died in January, all of the players in the Home Run Derby are wearing the number 44.

In a preview of things to come… Shohei Ohtani approached 500 feet during batting practice.

The eight players that will compete in the home run hitting display in hopes of hitting the ball the furthest are:
Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani
New York Mets Pete Alonso
Colorado Rockies Trevor Story
Washington Nationals Juan Soto
Texas Rangers Joey Gallo
Baltimore Orioles Trey Mancini
Oakland Athletics Matt Olson
Kansas City Royals Salvador Perez

The pairings are…
Trey Mancini and Matt Olson
Trevor Story and Joey Gallo
Pete Alonso and Salvador Perez
Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani is the first Japanese born player and the first pitcher to be a part of the Home Run Derby. Ohtani leads the league with 33 home runs so far this season.

Performing from the Red Rocks Amphitheater, the Avett Brothers sing the National Anthem before the festivities begin.

In round one, the batters get three minutes to hit all of the bats they can. Every batter will be awarded an extra 30 seconds at the end. Batter can earn an additional 30 seconds if they hit a ball at least 475 feet during the first three minutes.

Trey Mancini comes to the plate and earns his bonus of 30 seconds after hitting a ball 475 feet. After a slow start, Mancini hit a total of 19 home runs during the three minute time period. When Mancini took a break with 2:07 minutes remaining, he had only two homers. After his bonus on one minute, Mancini added five more homers for a grand total of 24 homers.

Matt Olson comes to the plate and hit 17 home runs including a few into the third deck and the longest home run yet at 495 feet. After his one minute bonus, Olson hit a total of 23 homers.

Trey Mancini wins the match up.

Up next is home town player Trevor Story who hit 16 homers including one over 500 feet at 518 feet. After his one minute bonus, Story hit a grand total of 20 home runs.

Joey Gallo comes to the plate and hits eleven homers including one over 475 feet for the extra bonus. After his one minute bonus time, Joey Gallo hitsa total of 19 home runs.

Trevor Story wins the matchup.

In the third match up, Pete Alonso takes the plate and not only sent the ball far but very high. He hit 25 home runs including several over the 500 foot mark. After his one minute bonus, Alonso hit a grand total of 35 homers; breaking the previous round one record. After winning the Derby in 2019, Pete Alonso is the reigning Home Run Derby champion.

Salvador Perez takes the plateand hit 17 home run balls. After his one minute bonus time, Perez has a grand total of 27 homers.

Pete Alonso wins the match up.

And in the final pairing of round one…
Juan Soto takes the plate and hits 18 home runs. After his one minute bonus time Soto hit a grand total of 22 home runs. His longest home run was 520 feet.

The final batter in round one is current MLB home run leader Shohei Ohtani who got a phone call from team mate Mike Trout during his time out. Ohtani was slow to get started and wound up hitting just 16 home runs. After his one minute bonus time, Ohtani hit a total of 22 home runs to tie with Juan Soto. Ohtani’s longest homer was 513 feet.

There will be a one swing off between Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani. The “swing off” numbers are added to the previous homers.

After his one minute swing off, Juan Soto has a total of 28 home runs.

Shohei Ohtani adds six homers to his total for 28 home runs.

The two batters will now face a further tie breaker of three swing “swing off”.

Juan Soto went three for three in his swing off at bat for a total of 30 homers.

Shohei Ohtani missed his first swing in the swing off, giving the match to Juan Soto. Shohei Ohtani is out of the competition.

In round one, a total of 206 home runs were hit.


In round two its the battle between Trey Mancini and Trevor Story and Pete Alonso and Juan Soto will face off.

First up is Trevor Story who hits 10 homers but failed to hit one 475 feet for the extra 30 second bonus. He will get the 30 second bonus to add to his total. Trevor Story hit a grand total of just 12 home runs.

Trey Mancini comes to the place and hits 13 homers with 23 seconds remaining on the clock to beat Trevor Story.

Trey Mancini moves on to the finals to face the winner between Juan Soto and Pete Alonso.

Juan Soto takes the plate first and hits eleven home runs before his one minute bonus time. Soto puts up a grand total of 15 homers.

The final batter in round two is Pete Alonso who has already set the home run record in round one. Alonso needs just 16 homers to move on to the finals who reached the number with 50 seconds remaining in his three minutes.

Pete Alonso will face Trey Mancini in the final round for the title of Home Run Derby champ.

A total of 56 home runs were hit in round two.

In round three, the batters get only two minutes plus the bonus time.

Trey Mancini comes to the plate first and hits 17 home runs. After the one minute bonus, Mancini has a grand total of 22 homers.

Pete Alonso comes to the plate and hits 17 home runs but has the one minute bonus yet to come. Pete Alonso hits seven home runs with 33 seconds remaining in the bonus time to win his second Home Run Derby!

Alonso wins $1 million for winning the Derby – more than he makes with the Mets.