Who Will Win the Home Run Derby?

Jul 3, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins right fielder

(27) connects for a base hit during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Marlins Ballpark. The Phillies won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The NL has two main names: Puig and Stanton. That’s who everyone will be betting on, but Morneau has some pop as well, and has played at Target Field many times before.

Todd Frazier (Cincinnati) 19 Home Runs

The Todd Father as he is known. Frazier has put forth the most consistent effort power-wise that we have seen thus far, with 4 HR in April, 5 in May, 8 in June and 2 so far in July. He could be a definite sleeper candidate to take home the Home Run Derby title.

Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado) 21 Home Runs

Of Tulo’s 21 Home Runs, 14 have come at home, and 2 have come at the Great American Ballpark, another hitter’s paradise. Target Field is a large park, and while Tulo has some pop in his bat, he may not be a big enough power-hitter to muscle himself into the later rounds.

Yasiel Puig (LA Dodgers) 12 Home Runs

Puig had a fantastic May, when he hit 8 of his 12 Home Runs. In the next month and a half, he has hit just 1, and it was in Colorado. He also has the lowest Home Run total of any participant in the Home Run Derby. I’m going out on a limb and saying that Puig finishes with closer to the bottom of the leaderboard, not the top.

Justin Morneau (Colorado) 13 Home Runs

Much like Tulowitzki, Morneau has compiled a good portion of his power numbers playing at home. Yes, a team plays half their games at home, but not every team plays at Coors. In Morneau’s case however, I believe that having spent 11 years playing in Minnesota could be a key to making it into the later rounds. He knows how the park plays.

Giancarlo Stanton (Miami) 21 Home Runs

Stanton is tied with the most Home Runs of any participant (with Tulowitzki), but he plays in a pitcher’s park. When Stanton connects on a ball, it’s not a question of whether it’s going over the fence, but if it’ll ever come down. I feel that Stanton will make the finals on pure power.