Geoff Johnson
There’s no doubt baseball traditionalists love the midsummer classic. However, while they’ll be intently watching the 85th All-Star Game Tuesday night at Target Field, the general public will be paying special attention to the 2014 Gillette Home Run Derby taking place tonight. There’s nothing better than the home run and this contest provides plenty of moon shots.
Tonight’s contest marks the debut of a new format, which feature two squares of five players from each league receiving seven outs (instead of 10) in the first round. The player who hits the most homers in each league will receive an automatic bye to the third round (semifinals). The next two players from each league with the most homers will go head-to-head in the second round with seven outs. The two winners advance to the semifinals against the previous first round winner in each league. The final round has seven outs.
Here’s a look at the odds regarding winners of the 2014 Gillette Home Run Derby.
American League
8/1 Jose Bautista, TOR
10/1 Josh Donaldson, OAK
6/1 Brian Dozier, MIN
10/1 Adam Jones, BAL
6/1 Yoenis Cespedes, OAK (defending Home Run Derby champ)
National League
6/1 Troy Tulowitzki, COL
8/1 Todd Frazier, CIN
7/1 Justin Morneau, COL (previous Home Run Derby champ)
10/1 Yasiel Puig, LAD
10/1 Giancarlo Stanton, MIA
