Sean Alvarez

THE PLAY: James Wood - Winner - (+400)

This 6’7” left hander has a smooth swing that carries the barrel of the bat through the zone for an extended amount of time and uses his tall frame to launch balls over the fence. Throughout the 2025 season, James Wood averages the longest home runs throughout these participants with an average of 411 feet and has 135 balls hit with an exit velocity of 95MPH or higher. 

Wood chose to go with Ricky Gutierrez, the 3rd base coach for Washington and normal BP pitcher tonight and they have been seen “practicing” for tonight’s event. I like that he is leading off the Derby tonight which should give him extended rest from Round 1 to the Semi-Finals. I like that James seems to have his “eye on the prize” opposed to some of the opponents that look to be putting the experience over the win tonight. 

THE PLAY: Jazz Chisholm Jr. - 1st Round - Under 17.5

Jazz Chisholm Jr. is already at a disadvantage with his 5’11” frame against hitters tonight that have more raw power than Jazz, but Chisholm has come out saying that he is only looking to give out 70% effort tonight while focusing on having a good time. Players that have earned an All-Star appearance deserve to enjoy every minute of the experience, but those quotes do not give me much confidence in his performance for tonight’s Home Run Derby.

Jazz turned to his stepfather, Geron Sands, to throw to him tonight rather than a member of the Yankees coaching staff. Sands has been throwing to Jazz since he was a child, but that is a far cry from trying to groove pitches consistently in front of thousands of people inside a major league stadium. Chisholm is also dealing with a shoulder injury that has moved him from 3rd base to 2nd base and while he has said that the issue is with the throwing motion rather than hitting, it is still a cause for concern when stamina starts to play a factor. Jazz is giving me enough points to play against his total of 17.5 home runs within the 1st round tonight.

THE PLAY: Byron Buxton to make the Semi-Finals (+110)

Byron has hit absolute tanks this season while averaging 410 feet when hitting home runs this season, 2nd to only James Wood in tonight’s field, and has had an exit velocity of over 95MPH, 119 times this season. Byron will have the benefit of Tommy Watkins throwing to him tonight, the Twins 3rd base coach who has thrown to Buxton since 2012. 

I like that Buxton has familiarity with the pitcher tonight and who has experience throwing in a major league stadium. Matt Olson’s swing speed and exit velocity has dropped throughout the last couple of seasons and Jazz Chisholm Jr. has come out saying he is looking to give 70% effort and “Have fun out there.” While Oneil Cruz was removed from Saturday’s game with a hip flexor strain. I think that +120 is a solid number for Byron to make it out of Round 1 while other hitters participating tonight have question marks.