2023 MLB Home Run Derby Simulation Results
We are under 24 hours away from one of the best events on the baseball calendar: the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby. We have given you the betting odds, Trey released his betting guide, but I went one step further and simulated the entire event to bring you a preview of what could come. The format is the exact same down to the players, seeding, and times per round. We will go round by round and give a brief rundown.
*This simulation was done in MLB The Show 23 on Xbox Series X*
First Round
1-seed Luis Robert Jr. (15 home runs) defeats 8-seed Adley Rutschman (14 home runs)
A first-round matchup between the Chicago White Sox’s Luis Robert Jr. and the Baltimore Orioles’ Adley Rutschman leads off this 2023 MLB Home Run Derby simulation. Rutschman got off to a hot start, hitting eight homers in his first minute and a half before timeout. He did not recover though, finishing the round with 14. Meanwhile, Robert Jr. stayed consistent all round, taking his timeout with just over a minute to go.
2-seed Pete Alonso (16 home runs) defeats 7-seed Julio Rodriguez (15 home runs)
Pete Alonso won his round with 16 homers, but struggled out of the gate, taking his timeout early. Julio Rodriguez, the home team representative, did not hit the extra time threshold by hitting two home runs over 440 feet, which hurt his chances here. Alonso advances.
6-seed Mookie Betts (16 home runs) defeats 3-seed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (15 home runs)
Our first upset in this 2023 MLB Home Run Derby Simulation! Mookie Betts put up enough during his four minutes to outlast the betting favorite, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Guerrero hit his bonus time with 20 seconds left, but his energy bar was low enough to where he was not getting much on the ball. Guerrero breaks the hearts of bettors everywhere with his first-round upset.
5-seed Randy Arozarena (18 home runs) defeats 4-seed Adolis Garcia (14 home runs)
Randy Arozarena got off to a hot start and never looked back, leading the first round in home runs with 18, including a huge 460-foot blast to center. Adolis Garcia never looked like he had enough juice to really stay competitive in this round.
Semi-Finals
Luis Robert Jr. (18 home runs) defeats Randy Arozarena (17 home runs)
The top overall seed in the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby simulation showed why he earned that spot, belting a total of 18 home runs all over T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Arozarena had a great showing in this round, but Robert outpaced the Tampa Bay Rays’ left fielder to book his spot in the finals of the derby. But who would he face?
Mookie Betts (17 home runs) defeats Pete Alonso (15 home runs)
Mookie Betts continued his hot streak and upset the popular choice in Pete Alonso to face Luis Robert Jr. in the finals! Betts was consistent during his four minutes, while Alonso struggled again out of the gates, but similar to Todd Frazier in 2015, he went ballistic with the clock winding down, though he didn’t have enough to get him over the 17 home run total.
2023 Home Run Derby Simulation Final Round
Luis Robert Jr. (11 home runs) defeats Mookie Betts (10 home runs)
Our 2023 MLB Home Run Derby simulation ends on a bit of a flat note, as both batters combine for just 21 home runs over eight minutes, but we do see the top-seeded Luis Robert Jr. come out with the title of home run derby champion!
This has been Vendetta’s 2023 MLB Home Run Derby Simulation! Who under-performed? Did you expect Robert to come out on top? Let us know in the comments below!
