Home Run Derby Gamethread

It’s time for the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby. This marks the 19th season in a row that the San Francisco Giants don’t have a Home Run Derby participant, and it’s also where I angrily point out that Brandon Crawford has more dingers than half the field.

But no worry, because Shohei Ohtani is here, and the baseball world is rightfully buzzing about the first derby for a player on pace to crack 60 home runs while also being the starting pitcher for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.

Talk about getting you someone who can do both.

Anyway, have fun watching some of the best home run hitters alive try to hit home runs on pitches designed to be hit for home runs, at a ballpark designed to create home runs.

And if you feel like having some alternate audio, head over to Spotify Greenroom and find the SB Nation Home Run Derby Room — I’ll be hanging out there all night, talking not just the derby but everything about the 2021 season with my colleagues Sam Wilson and John Stolnis, as well as with MLB All-Star turned ESPN broadcaster John Kruk.

We’ll be starting a little before 5:00 p.m. PT.

How to watch the derby

What: 2021 MLB Home Run Derby
Where: Cools Field, Denver, Colorado
When: 5:00 p.m. PT
TV: ESPN (available on fuboTV) and ESPN+

Here are the participants:

Pete Alonso (Mets)
Joey Gallo (Rangers)
Trey Mancini (Orioles)
Shohei Ohtani (Angels)
Matt Olson (A’s)
Salvador Pérez (Royals)
Juan Soto (Nationals)
Trevor Story (Rockies)

Enjoy the derby, friends.