MLB Home Run Derby 2023 results: Round-by-round scores and expert analysis [UPDATED LIVE]

The 2023 MLB Home Run Derby kicks off on Monday night. Pete Alonso has a chance at history, while Julio Rodriguez looks to take home the title in his home park. 

The MLB Home Run Derby bracket is loaded with some of the game’s greatest stars. While the event itself serves as a glorified batting practice, unlike the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, this is an event that regularly delivers. In some ways, it’s better than the actual All-Star Game itself.

The HR Derby bracket lines up like this:

• (1) Luis Robert Jr. vs. (8) Adley Rutschman
• (2) Pete Alonso vs. (7) Julio Rodríguez
• (3) Mookie Betts vs. (6) Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
• (4) Adolis García vs. (5) Randy Arozarena

Alonso, Julio Rodriguez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. are among the favorites. Alonso is just one Derby title away from tying Ken Griffey Jr., a former Mariner, for most Derbies won. The drama is real at T-Mobile Park, as the hope among fans is that their own homegrown star in Rodriguez will keep Alonso from making history in Seattle.

MLB Home Run Derby 2023 expert picks: Who will win?

Mark Powell, FanSided MLB editor: It’s tough to bet against Julio Rodriguez in this scenario, but often the pressure of a hometown favorite is too much to overcome. My money (quite literally) is on Vladdy, who frequently puts on a show in his live BP. The Jays star is destined to provide the MLB world a reminder of just how talented he really is.

Robert Murray, FanSided MLB insider: Vlad Jr is my pick. I was tempted to go with Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez — he was a popular pick among people at the All-Star Game considering he’s playing in Seattle, per Kevin Henry — but hitting in the Derby in your own stadium comes with a lot of pressure. Can he overcome it? Of course. But I’m going with Vlad Jr.

Cody Williams, FanSided Senior Editor: Randy Arozarena campaigned to get into the derby and got his wish — now it’s time to answer the hype. If the World Baseball Classic was any evidence, though, “some m**********r named Randy” lives for the spotlight and he’ll be firmly in it on Monday night. Julio Rodriguez would’ve been the pick if he wasn’t under hometown pressure in Seattle, so it’s Arozarena taking the crown.

Kevin Henry, FanSided MLB Reporter: When I talked to Josh Hader on the field before the Home Run Derby, he picked J-Rod to go all the way. Who am I to go against the Padres closer and all of these Seattle fans? Let’s say the love from the home crowd pushes Julio not only past the Polar Bear, but the rest of the field as well.

Alicia de Artola, FanSided Editor: I’m going Pete Alonso because he knows how to win it, so why not one more? He’s not winning anything with the Mets this year anyways, so might as well give it his all.

MLB Home Run Derby results, round-by-round scores, highlights, analysis

MLB Home Run Derby Round 1: (4) Adolis García vs. (5) Randy Arozarena

Kevin Henry: Arozarena came out in cowboy boots and did his patented stare and crossed arms when introduced.

https://twitter.com/Cut4/status/1678558763966427136

However, came out with a slow start. Called a time out with 1:32 left. Had 10 hit and longest was 438 feet at that point. Finished with 19 but gets bonus time. Longest was 442,  with five HRs in 30 seconds of bonus time.

Arozarena total: 24 home runs.

Henry: Garcia takes timeout with 1:26 left. Had 10 at the TO with 438 being the longest (exactly what Arozarena had).

Powell: Garcia struggles to keep up with Arozarena after the break. Randy and his boots move on to the next round, and Cardinals fans everywhere cry.

Randy Arozarena moves on.

MLB Home Run Derby Round 1: (1) Luis Robert Jr. vs. (8) Adley Rutschman

Henry: Adley hitting LH has me on high alert. That landed right from of us.

Powell: Gotta love the story behind Adley’s dad throwing him this BP. It’s what baseball is all about.

Henry: TO at 1:29 with nine homers. 445 feet longest. 445 was longest. Finished with 21 before bonus time so solid use of the TO.

Powell: Win or lose, Adley’s swing is one of the prettiest in the game today. Even Ken Griffey Jr. looks impressed. Annnndddddd….he’s switch-hitting in the middle of this damn thing.

Henry: He unlocked the key. Finished with 27, 6 from the right side. He won the crowd over with that one

Adley Rutschman total: 27 home runs

Henry: Luis Robert Jr. making it look easy before his TO. 13 homers with 1:27 to go. Last one was longest so far at 470 feet

Henry: Finished with 27. Still has bonus time. 470 still longest. Needs one to knock out Adley

Powell: Poor Adley, man. An unforgettable performance only to have it washed under the rug.

Henry: Luis Robert Jr. with the walkoff. That’s one way to one-up a switch hitter.

Luis Robert Jr. moves on.

MLB Home Run Derby Round 1: (3) Mookie Betts vs. (6) Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Henry: 11 home runs with a TO at the 1:31 mark. Longest has been 456 feet. Already clinched 30 seconds of bonus time. Finished regulation with 17 homers. Vladdy looks angry when he swings it. Definitely difference in HR approach between him and Luis Robert Jr.

Powell: This dude is a menace, in case the rest of baseball forgot. My goodness.

https://twitter.com/BovadaOfficial/status/1678542339537764352

Henry: Finished total with 26 and longest of 456. Definitely made us of the bonus time.

Vladdy home run total: 26

Henry: Mookie with some solid doubles, but that’s not going to get it done here. No time out yet. An interesting strategy

Powell: Not sure what Betts was really thinking here, but he didn’t give himself much of a chance. Perhaps he wants to watch with the rest of us.

https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1678496372813623316

Henry: Mookie almost gave Vladdy a bye in this round with that performance. Finished with 11. Lowest of the day by far

Vladdy moves on with ease. Thank you, next.

MLB Home Run Derby Round 1: (2) Pete Alonso vs. (7) Julio Rodríguez

Henry: Crowd chanting Julio as he hits a TO with 1:35 left. 14 homers so far and 452 feet for the longest. Between this rhythm of hitting homers and the crowd getting louder and louder, Polar Bear is going to have a tough ladder to climb here in the first round.

Powell: A casual reminder that this is, in fact, his ballpark.

Henry: Finished regulation with 32 homers. Long of 452. Crowd is chanting Julio and Seattle showing its backing its favorite son.

Powell: If Polar Bear can out-do this performance, hand him the crown now. Good lord.

Powell: We are in the month of Julio, goodness. I got nothing. The bonus time was almost unfair.

Henry: History made by Julio Rodriguez, the most in any round (41).

Julio Rodriguez finishes with 41 home runs.

Henry: Alonso takes a time out with 1:21 remaining. 11 homers hit with 450 as the longest.

Powell: Yeah, this isn’t going to happen for the Polar Bear. Not with a 41-home run cushion. Julio moves on to the semis.

Julio Rodriguez moves on.

MLB Home Run Derby Round 2: Randy Arozarena vs Luis Robert Jr.

Henry: Arozarena with 14 at the TO (1:30 to go). 447 feet is his longest so far here. Second round is always tougher it seems.

Powell: Randy came out the gate with a lot of fire, but now is starting to press. We’ll see if he can get things going.

Henry: Randy is finding his groove now. Perhaps the best use of the TO tonight so far. Finishing regulation with an even 30. Definitely seemed to get in a better swing there

Powell: We clearly need to give the pitcher some love here, what great placement.

Henry: Tampa Bay’s Tomas Francisco (throwing to Arozarena) may be the best of the bunch tonight as far as getting pitches quickly in to the hitter.

Randy Arozarena total: 35 home runs

Henry: Luis Robert Jr. has a ways to go to catch Arozarena’s 35 from this round. With 1:27 left in regulation, he has hit 10 including one that traveled 484 feet. That 484 is the longest of the night.

Powell: Well, Robert could be in line to win some money tonight, at least, should that mark hold.

Henry: 22 is the final number for Robert Jr., put Arozarena had too much

Powell: To quote Cody Williams, “If the World Baseball Classic was any evidence, though, “some m**********r named Randy” lives for the spotlight and he’ll be firmly in it on Monday night.”

Randy Arozarena moves on.

MLB Home Run Derby Round 2: Julio Rodriguez vs Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Powell: Have to wonder if that 41-home run first round took all of Julio’s energy. That’s a lot of swings.

Henry: Second round had a slow start for Julio, but was in a groove right before the TO. Took it with 1:32 left and 10 homers on the board. 426 feet is the longest so far.

Henry: Best job of the day goes to the umpire who is in the outfield and makes the home run signal every time one flies well into the bleachers.

Powell: Finally, someone honors the real heroes.

Henry: That first round wiped J-Rod out it seems. Finishes regulation with 16. What can he do with bonus time?

Powell: You’d think he’d need quite the cushion to hold off Vladdy, who has been on this stage before.

Henry: An even 20. Will it be enough to hold off Vladdy and make it to the Finals?

Julio Rodriguez finishes the second round with 20 home runs.

Henry: Cheers from the pro-Julio crowd for every non-homer and groans every time Vladdy knocks one out.

Powell: This is pretty much a road game at this point for Guerrero Jr.

Henry: He’s halfway to matching Rodriguez as he takes his TO with 1:42 left. 10 have left the yard, with 452 as his longest

Powell: Great use of his TO. A much-needed breather. It’s not looking great for Rodrigues unless Vladdy goes cold.

Henry: Vladdy with 20 at the end of regulation. Needs just one in bonus time to win and the Seattle crowd isn’t happy about that

Powell: Vladdy casually hits one to the space needle ftw.

Henry: And he walks it off to knock out the fan favorite. We have Guerrero vs. Arozarena in an all AL East finals

Vladimir Guerrero knocks out hometown favorite Julio Rodriguez

MLB Home Run Derby Finals: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs Randy Arozarena

Powell: Vladdy has to be exhausted. Thanks to this bizarre seeding format, he has to bat twice in a row! Yikes.

Henry: TO for Guerrero at 1:13. Six homers so far with a long of 441.

Powell: A well-earned timeout, frankly. Might as well give him two! No amount of bench press can prepare a man for these reps. Not a bad finish from Vladdy, though, who summoned every ounce of energy he had for that final stretch.

Henry: The time out definitely paid off. Finishes regulation with 20 and still has bonus time to come. Showing him on camera here and you can tell he’s about hit his limit.

Powell: It’s all on Randy’s shoulders, now. The pressure is on.

Henry: An impressive 25 in the final round from Vladdy. Now will it be Randy’s world? He’s had some time to rest and recover.

Powell: Can Randy win in Cowboy boots? And if so, what will MLB’s best and brightest wear next season? Our story at 10.

Henry: These boots are made for hittin (homers)

https://twitter.com/CBSSports/status/1678559607495557121

Powell: Oh please, no more puns.

Henry: TO for Arozarena after his ninth homer leave the yard. He has 1:01 left and his longest in this round is 425. He hasn’t qualified for any bonus time yet

Henry: Randy gets :30 of bonus time. He needs four homers to tie Vladdy and five to beat him, finishing regulation with 21

Powell: I’m all for more drama. A swing-off, perhaps? Bring it.

Henry: Vladdy wins the Home Run Derby with a 25-23 conquest of Arozarena in the final round.

Who won the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came away the champion of the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby, defeating Randy Arozarena, 25-23. It was an incredible effort from both players, who looked dead tired in their final at-bat of the evening. While players like Adley Rutschman (hit home runs both left and right-handed) and Julio Rodriguez (41 home runs in a single round) stole the show, it was Guerrero Jr. whose consistency eventually won him the contest.