8:10 pm
July 12

2021 Home Run Derby: #1 Ohtani v. #8 Soto

Which PLAYER will ADVANCE to the SEMIFINALS?

#1 Shohei Ohtani (LAA)

#8 Juan Soto (WSH)

 

Current odds:

Shohei Ohtani: (-320)

Juan Soto: (+210)

 

• Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels 

  • 2021 HR total: 33
  • Avg. HR distance: 417 feet
  • Longest HR: 470 feet

The historic first half of the AL MVP frontrunner has, rightfully, made him the clear favorite going into his first Home Run Derby. In addition to leading the majors in homers and slugging percentage and being a legit front-of-the-rotation arm, the Japanese superstar is Top 5 in average exit velocity and hard-hit rate, while ranking in the Top 10 in average home run distance.

No player in this field has hit a longer homer than Ohtani this year nor have they hit a ball as hard, with his max exit velocity of 119 mph trailing only Stanton and Judge. He barrels the ball more frequently than any player in the game and he can go deep to all fields.

• Juan Soto, Washington Nationals

  • 2021 HR total: 11
  • Avg. HR distance: 402 feet
  • Longest HR: 437 feet

The sweet-swinging 22-year-old is definitely known more as a pure hitter than a power bat and comes in tied for the lowest home run total, but he can hit it with authority. He’s 10th in the majors in hard-hit rate, trailing only Ohtani and Salvador Perez among the contestants.

Soto does, however, have the lowest launch angle among the group and in a Home Run Derby that could come back to bite him, as the higher right-field wall could steal away some of the zingers he drives out there.

6/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
#1 Shohei Ohtani
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