The Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby is getting a revamp in its fourth annual event — complete with a brand-new format and a new group of prospects set to swing for the fences.
This year’s event, set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Sloan Park as part of Fall Stars Weekend, features at least one player from each of the six AFL teams, as well as two wild cards. The eight total participants will each have a 90-second preliminary round where any home run hit over 425 feet will count double. All points (regular homers are one point) will carry over into the first round — and that’s where things really get interesting.
For the first round, the eight participants will be split into four teams of two players each, with each two-person team competing in two head-to-head matchups apiece. Individuals get seven outs to hit as many home runs as possible in each round, and again, homers over 425 feet will count for double, or two points. The winners of the first-round matchups will then compete against each other in the second round.
Then in the final round, it’s every man for himself. In the final round, the hitters from the team that won the second-round match will face each other in a head-to-head swing-off to decide the Derby champion. Each batter will get nine swings to accumulate the highest total, with hitters alternating every three swings.
Now let’s meet the contestants.
The slugging Valdez set the Fall League on fire from the moment he arrived, crushing eight homers in the first two weeks of play — more than twice the number of anyone else. After hitting 26 homers during the regular season, his power has been a main storyline of the fall, especially as he is seen to be playing for Rule 5 protection.
Blanco owns the longest and hardest-hit home runs of the Fall League, making him a must-see contestant. The brawny basher will be paired with his Pirates and Rafters teammate Valdez, comprising the Derby’s clear favorites.
You don’t get a nickname like “Tommy Tanks” for nothing. White is known for his pop and tends to hit homers in bunches, totaling 75 long balls in his college career at LSU. He’s gone deep 15 times in his first pro season, including thrice so far this fall.
When healthy, Petry is all about his power potential from the right side of the plate — and he’s healthy. He hit two in 24 games during the regular season, limited by injuries, after a prolific power-hitting college career (54 in three seasons at South Carolina).
The 6-foot-4 corner infielder packs a lot of power into that frame, and he’s been remarkably consistent in that department, launching 11 homers in each of his three full pro seasons. He was carrying a .537 slugging percentage this fall at the time of Tuesday’s announcement.
Thomas Sosa, OF, Peoria (Orioles)
Sosa has had trouble always getting to his power in games, but he’s displayed plus raw pop ever since the Orioles signed him out of the Dominican Republic as a teenager. He hit nine homers across three levels this season, reaching Double-A as a 20-year-old.
Ryan Galanie, INF, Glendale (White Sox)
The 25-year-old is yet to go deep this fall, but he’s slugged 28 homers over the past two seasons while reaching Double-A. Consider him a dark horse.
Parks Harber, INF, Scottsdale (Giants)
Harber has really come on as of late for Scottsdale, with three homers in his first 13 games. He’s a big reason why the Scorpions lead AFL clubs in homers and slugging this fall.
Past Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby champions
