Watch LIVE: 2023 HS Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park
If Monday’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby that includes Major League stars is the Taylor Swift Eras Tour live performance occasion, then Saturday’s MLB-USA Baseball High School Home Run Derby’s opening act comp can be HAIM.
Since 2013, Major League Baseball has invited a number of the finest highschool sluggers within the nation to take part in an extended ball competitors, with the 2 finalists invited to take swings Monday throughout the primary occasion.
This yr’s subject of eight performers has an opportunity to placed on an actual present within the tenth version of occasion, which is ready to happen on Saturday, July 8, at 11 a.m. PT (2 p.m. ET), streaming reside on MLB.com:
Konnor Griffin, OF, Jackson Preparatory (Florence, Miss.): One of the most effective all-around gamers within the class, Griffin is a 6-foot-4 right-handed hitter with large bat pace and all-around instruments. He reclassified and is dedicated to LSU.
Jaydon Kea, C, Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Kapolei, HI): A bat-first backstop, Kea gained some fame with a walk-off and bat flip within the Little League World Series. There’s a ton of energy and elevate on the swing. He’s dedicated to Vanderbilt.
PJ Morlando, OF, Summerville (S.C.) HS: He might need the most effective mixture of bat-to-ball abilities and uncooked energy within the class, with a easy setup and explosive contact from the left facet.
Andre Modugno, 3B, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.): This Duke commit is 6-foot-5 and is tremendous athletic. There’s swing-and-miss in his sport, however he may have plus-plus energy sooner or later.
Nick Montgomery, C, Cypress (Calif.) HS: Big for a catcher at 6-foot-4, Montgomery is dedicated to Arizona State and makes use of an open stance and leg kick from the precise facet of the plate. He has very fast arms that generate wonderful bat pace.
Dante Nori, OF, Northville (Mich.) HS: This Mississippi State recruit is an efficient athlete who runs effectively and has extra of a popularity for being a hit-over-power kind, however his capability to barrel up the baseball persistently may work to his benefit.
Samuel Richardson, 3B/OF, Lewisburg HS (Olive Branch, Miss.): Richardson has a great energy profile, with an open stance and setup that reminds a few of Manny Machado. The Missouri recruit makes use of a bat waggle to unleash wonderful bat pace and power.
Noah Sheffield, SS, Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit: Fans of his dad, Gary, would possibly acknowledge the signature stance and bat wiggle. The youthful Sheffield has bat pace, too, that would assist in an occasion like this. He’s dedicated to Florida State.
Keeping observe of those individuals is vital for subsequent yr’s Draft and past. Over the earlier 9 editions, a number of large leaguers have taken their hacks, together with Alex Verdugo, Josh Naylor, Hunter Greene, Royce Lewis, Nolan Gorman, Bobby Witt Jr. and Riley Greene.
Last yr, Max Clark (No. 5 Draft prospect) and Aidan Miller (No. 13) participated, and each are anticipated to be first-round picks on this yr’s Draft. Termarr Johnson and Elijah Green took their hacks in 2021 and went Nos. 4 and 5 total in final yr’s Draft, respectively.
Here’s an entire record of previous winners:
2022: Aidan Miller
2021: Jared Jones and Sal Stewart (tie)
2019: Blaze Jordan
2018: Bobby Witt Jr.
2017: Nolan Gorman
2016: Nick Brueser
2015: Andrew Yerzy and Ron Washington Jr. (tie)
2014: Luken Baker
2013: Jake Gatewood
