2023 Home Run Derby Prediction: Can Julio Rodriguez Shine at the 2023 Home Run Derby?
Tonight is the 2023 Home Run Derby. Can Julio Rodriguez shine at the 2023 Home Run Derby? Handicapper Krabs shares his prediction pick for tonight's contest.
Krabs - July 10, 2023, 1:13 PM EDT
5 min2023 Home Run Derby Prediction: Can Julio Rodriguez Shine at the 2023 Home Run Derby?
Last year, Juan Soto gave Washington Nationals fans one final memory to cherish when he won the Home Run Derby in Los Angeles. He beat out Julio Rodriguez, who will compete in his second consecutive Home Run Derby in his home ballpark tonight.
JRod put on a show in the first round of last year’s derby when he hit 32 homers. He beat the betting favorite, Pete Alonso, in the second round before losing to Soto by one in the finals. It looks like MLB is crafting up a sequel to last year’s electric head-to-head between these two, with them facing off once again in the first round tonight. Will JRod have what it takes to upset the Polar Bear for a second straight year?
2023 MLB Home Run Derby Start Time and Where to Watch
- Date: Monday, July 10, 2023
- Start Time: 8:00 pm ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
2023 Home Run Derby Prediction
When the first round of the 2022 Home Run Derby was completed, JRod looked like he would run away with it. His opponent, Corey Seager, put up the second-most home runs in round one and still lost. JRod put up 31 homers against Alonso in the second round before running out of gas in the finals. You could tell JRod was running on fumes against Soto in that last round. Expect him to conserve some energy in the earlier rounds after learning from his mistakes last year.
I’d be surprised if JRod runs out of energy at his home ballpark tonight like he did in Los Angeles last year. We’ve seen young players use the adrenaline of playing in front of their home crowd to their advantage in previous HR Derby’s. Bryce Harper won the derby in front of his home crowd back in 2018 when he was still young; maybe JRod can do the same thing.
Besides Alonso, there really aren’t many clear-cut favorites this year. There is a 0% chance I’m backing the betting favorite in the derby, but I don’t want to get greedy and back a guy like Adley or Mookie at (+1000). After opening up at (+550), JRod now has the third shortest odds to win the derby at (+400). He’s moved in front of Luis Robert, a very popular derby pick.
I want to put my hard-earned money on a young stud who’s motivated to win the derby. I’d say Julio playing in front of his home crowd after barely losing last year’s contest would be enough to motivate him. He’s also been heating up over his last 15 games, and it’s very important to be swinging a hot bat entering the derby. Back the hometown kid to get his revenge after putting on one of the greatest shows we’ve ever seen in this event last year, but falling just short.
2023 Home Run Derby Pick
Julio Rodriguez to win the Home Run Derby +400 is currently the best odds. Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds for this pick
MLB Odds
