<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4KZy0w_0uQitwie00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4KZy0w_0uQitwie00" width="760" height="428" ><figcaption>(Sporting News Illustration)</figcaption></figure>As the Home Run Derby arrives at the home of the reigning World Series champions, youth will be served.While Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are among stars who won't be participating, two of baseball's most dynamic young players — Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr. — are among the derby headliners as they make their first All-Star appearances.A few contestants have been here before. Pete Alonso is a two-time winner looking to climb back to the top in his fifth consecutive derby, while Jose Ramirez and Adolis Garcia have participated before but didn't find much success.Last year's champion, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is not defending his crown. If Alonso doesn't win for a third time, the derby is guaranteed to have another first-time winner.<h2>Home Run Derby bracket 2024</h2>There is no bracket entering the Home Run Derby this year, as the top four home run hitters will advance past the first round with no head-to-head matchups. A bracket will be formed after the first round based on those results. The No. 1 and No. 4 home run hitters in the first round will face off in the semifinals, while the No. 2 and No. 3 home run hitters will also do battle. Each winner will face off in the finals.Here are the eight participants for the Home Run Derby, by 2024 home run total:<ul><li>Gunnar Henderson, Orioles (28)</li><li>Marcell Ozuna, Braves (26)</li><li>Jose Ramirez, Guardians (23)</li><li>Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers (19)</li><li>Pete Alonso, Mets (19)</li><li>Adolis Garcia, Rangers (17)</li><li>Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (16)</li><li>Alec Bohm, Phillies (11)</li></ul><h2>Home Run Derby predictions</h2>Dan Treacy: Pete Alonso is naturally worth a look because of his experience and his return to Dave Jauss as his pitcher, but anyone other than Alec Bohm and Jose Ramirez profiles as a real contender on Monday night. The most exciting names are Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr., who both hit the ball about as hard as anyone in the field. Despite Witt's 15 home runs, it would be wise not to sleep on the Royals star. He could turn some of his Kauffman Stadium doubles into home runs, and his hard hit rate and barrel percentage are similar Julio Rodriguez's 2022 and 2023 marks. Rodriguez didn't jump off the page as a big-time power hitter, but his tools allowed him to perform well at the derby each time. With fatigue likely less to be a factor under the new format, Witt should have a chance to do what Rodriguez couldn't and sustain it all the way through to the end. Winner: WittEdward Sutelan: Everyone rolled their eyes when Alec Bohm was named to the Home Run Derby. The guy has 11 homers in 2024 and had a career-best 20 in 2023. How could he be one of the eight best sluggers to compete in the derby?! Let’s just take a look at a few key numbers here. He is in the 74th percentile in launch angle sweet spot rate, meaning he hits the ball at the best angle for contact. Only Marcell Ozuna is higher. He’s also in the 74th percentile for hard-hit rate, which means he’s no slouch when it comes to making hard contact. Sure, everyone but Pete Alonso and Jose Ramirez have higher hard-hit rates. But this is the Home Run Derby, where it’s glorified soft toss. At 6-5, he’s also the tallest player in the field, giving him plenty of reach and the chance to get plenty of extension in his swing. Globe Life Park also happens to be better for right-handed hitters hitting taters than lefties by Baseball Savant, which gives him an advantage over other sluggers like Ramirez (likely to bat left-handed) and Gunnar Henderson. In a stunning upset, Bohm slugs his way to a Derby crown. Winner: Bohm<h2>Home Run Derby odds</h2>All odds courtesy of BetMGM.Alonso is the favorite as he tries to tie Ken Griffey Jr.'s record with a third Home Run Derby win, with Ozuna and Henderson not far behind.Henderson has the third-shortest odds despite leading all participants in home runs, while Ramirez has distant odds after his derby struggles two years ago and Bohm, with only 11 home runs on the season, has the most distant odds.Here's a complete look at the 2024 Home Run Derby odds:PlayerOddsPete Alonso+310Marcell Ozuna+375Gunnar Henderson+450Bobby Witt Jr.+500Adolis Garcia+600Teoscar Hernandez+1100Jose Ramirez+1200Alec Bohm+1800</div></body>

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Home Run Derby bracket 2024: Full list of contestants, odds, predictions for the winner

As the Home Run Derby arrives at the home of the reigning World Series champions, youth will be served. While Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are among stars who won't be participating, two of baseball's most dynamic young players — Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr. — are among the derby headliners as they make their first All-Star appearances.