Mets' Alonso to defend Home Run Derby title
Defending Home Run Derby champion Pete Alonso will participate in this year's event at Coors Field, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday.
The champ is here.
— MLB (@MLB) June 23, 2021
Pete Alonso will compete in the @TMobile #HRDerby on July 12! pic.twitter.com/P9hwaTZEOV
The New York Mets first baseman won the 2019 event, defeating Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays by one home run in a memorable final round. There was no derby in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
PETE ALONSO HAS DONE IT!
— ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2019
He hit 57 home runs to win the 2019 #HRDerby 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kXjWKNmZsO
Alonso, 26, has hit 80 homers in his young career, 11 of them this season.
He is the second player to confirm his participation in this year's derby, joining Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels.