Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts Will Participate in Home Run Derby
Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts has confirmed that he will participate in the Home Run Derby as part of All-Star Week this July in Seattle.
The Derby will take place on July 10, the day before the All-Star Game. Betts is the third confirmed participant alongside Julio Rodriguez (Mariners) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays).
Not thought of as a pure home run hitter, Betts is having a great year from a power perspective. He's got 20 homers thus far to go along with 51 RBI and seven stolen bases.
Left-handed hitters tend to have a better time at T-Mobile Park so it's interesting to see the first three participants all be right-handed.
For his career, Betts has exactly 700 RBI and has hit 233 homers.
Betts was also named a starter for the All-Star Game, giving him seven appearances in his career. One of the best players of his generation, he also is a five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, a six-time Gold Glover, a two-time World Series champion (2018, 2020) and a batting champion.
He signed a 12-year contract with the Dodgers after being acquired by them before the 2020 season in a trade with the Red Sox.
The Dodgers are currently 45-35 on the season and sit two games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the National League West.
The Dodgers will take on the Kansas City Royals on Friday night in KC. Bobby Miller (3-1, 4.13 ERA) will pitch for the Dodgers while prospect Alec Marsh makes his debut for the Royals.
First pitch is 8:10 p.m. ET.
