2023 Home Run Derby: Mookie Betts Eliminated By Vladimir Guerrero Jr. In First Round

The 2023 Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park featured two-champion Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Mookie Betts participating in the event for the first time in his career, Seattle Mariners hometown representative Julio Rodríguez, and more.

The Home Run Derby bracket was determined by each player’s season home run total through the Fourth of July. The tiebreaker for players with the same amount of home runs was the most long balls hit since June 15.

Betts earned the No. 3 seed by virtue of hitting 23 home runs through the designated period. Guerrero secured sixth in the field with 13 homers.

Guerrero swung first and hit 26 during the regulation period and additional bonus time. Guerrero reached the benchmark of at least two 440-foot homers to earn an additional 30 seconds on top of the half-minute all players are provided.

Despite the relatively modest showing, Betts became latest Dodgers player to struggle in the Home Run Derby. Betts declined to use his timeout during the initial three-minute period, and only hit 11 home runs.

None of Betts’ homers traveled 440 feet, which left him with only 30 seconds in the bonus round. Betts failed to hit another homer during that span.

Heading into the event, the 2018 American League MVP said his only goal was to not finish in last place. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts supported Betts participating in the Home Run Derby, but had doubts over how he would fare in the event.

Mookie Betts unable to reverse Dodgers Home Run Derby history

Betts will became the 10th Dodgers player to compete in the event, and the team’s 13 time being represented. He joined Mike Piazza (1993, 1994), Rául Mondesi (1995), Hee-Seop Choi (2005), Matt Kemp (2011, 2012), Yasiel Puig (2014), Pederson (2015, 2019), Corey Seager (2016), Cody Bellinger (2017) and Max Muncy (2018) as Dodgers to participate in the Home Run Derby.