Mets' Pete Alonso Will Compete in 2024 MLB Home Run Derby; Won Event in 2019, 2021
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRT
Featured Columnist IVJuly 8, 2024
Death, taxes and... Pete Alonso in the Home Run Derby.
The New York Mets star slugger will participate in this year's edition of the event for the fifth straight time, attempting to become a three-time winner after claiming the title in 2019 and 2021.
MLB @MLBThe Polar Bear is hungry for more.<br><br>Two-time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HRDerby?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HRDerby</a> champion Pete Alonso will be swinging for the fences in Arlington!<br><br>(MLB x <a href="https://twitter.com/TMobile?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TMobile</a>) <a href="https://t.co/HfvI4QJRsw">pic.twitter.com/HfvI4QJRsw</a>
"I am so honored to be selected as an All-Star and represent the Mets!" Alonso announced on Instagram. "I'm excited to announce that I will participate in the Home Run Derby!"
Alonso is attempting to tie Ken Griffey Jr.'s record of three Derby triumphs. Once he was named to the All-Star Game roster on Sunday, it seemed likely he would be back for the Home Run Derby.
"If I'm selected to the All-Star team, then I am definitely open to doing it," he told reporters Saturday. "It's a super fun event."
Alonso will join fellow All-Stars Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles and Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies in the event, with more participants yet to be officially announced.
"Watching it as a kid growing up, just obviously something that seemed like it'd be pretty cool, and to have that opportunity is pretty special," Henderson told reporters in late June. "So I'm looking forward to it."
While Alonso is a prototypical power hitter and Henderson has raked 27 dingers this season, Bohm is more of a line-drive hitter. That has produced 70 RBI while hitting cleanup for the MLB-leading Phillies, but it doesn't lead to a ton of home runs (11 homers), making him an interesting choice for the event.
"I'm just going to see how many I can hit over the left-field fence. Obviously, I don't have a lot of home runs. In the game, I'm not trying to hit home runs," he told reporters on Friday. "I'm just trying to hit the ball on the middle of the barrel. Hit it, and whatever happens after that happens. Hopefully, the swing is good enough to hit the ball in the air, get in the gap and do some damage.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the defending champion, though it remains unknown if he will defend his title.