Giancarlo Stanton is favored to win the 2014 Home Run Derby

The Home Run Derby
has become one of the most anticipated events during the All-Star break
and this year the event could be even more enjoyable because of some
changes in the format.


This year the participants will only get seven outs per round instead
of 10, a change that will help move the event along but could hinder
the amount of home runs seen.


This Home Run Derby
will have a bracket-style format in which five players from each league
will appear at the plate during the first round, with the top hitters
from each league receiving a bye to the third round. Then, the next two
players from both leagues will face off in the second round, with the
winners advancing to face the top seeds.


In the end, the winners of the third round, one from each league, will face off in the finals.


List of participants


American League

Jose Bautista (Toronto Blue Jays) – 17 Home Runs

Yoenis Cespedes (Oakland Athletics) – 14 Home Runs

Adam Jones (Baltimore Orioles) – 16 Home Runs

Brian Dozier (Minnesota Twins) – 16 Home Runs

Josh Donaldson (Oakland Athletics) – 20 Home Runs


National League

Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado Rockies) – 20 Home Runs

Yasiel Puig (Los Angeles Dodgers) – 12 Home Runs

Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins) – 21 Home Runs

Todd Frazier (Cincinnati Reds) – 17 Home Runs

Justin Morneau (Colorado Rockies) – 13 Home Runs


The Favorite

Giancarlo Stanton is favored to win this event at +125 at America’s
Bookie, and his 21 home runs this season lead all Derby participants.
Stanton has blasted those 21 home runs despite playing in the
eighth-hardest ballpark to hit home runs according to ESPN.com’s Park
Factors. He makes up for the huge dimensions at Marlins Park by hitting
balls further than anyone else in baseball. According to ESPN’s Hit
Tracker, Stanton leads the league in average home run distance (423.8
feet).

Giancarlo Stanton is favored to win the 2014 Home Run Derby