2022 MLB HR Derby odds, best bets: Watch out for Schwarber, Rodriguez

The 2022 MLB Home Run Derby begins Monday, July 18 at 8 p.m. ET. Watch on ESPN in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada.

As if there hasn't been enough excitement on the baseball calendar in recent weeks, the Home Run Derby should deliver some memorable moments - and hopefully some hard-earned cash, too.

Mets slugger Pete Alonso rewarded bettors in each of the last two years and enters Monday's derby as the short favorite at Barstool Sportsbook, though he isn't the only noteworthy name on the board.

Here are the odds to win the Home Run Derby, along with each competitor's first-round opponent and a few names to consider before placing your wagers:

Pete Alonso, Mets (+155)

It should come as no surprise to see Alonso atop the oddsboard after he won each of the last two contests - first as a long shot in 2019, then as a dark-horse contender in 2021 following a year hiatus for the derby.

Alonso isn't sneaking up on anybody now. He ranks sixth in home runs (24) and leads all qualified hitters in RBIs (78). He's also the only contestant in this derby who's won it before, and that experience could prove valuable with so many first-time competitors.

His price is about as short as you'll ever see in this eight-man field, which makes it tough to recommend as a true value play. Still, if you're looking for cost certainty in a field this volatile, it's hard to do better than Alonso.

Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (+290)

Schwarber is the least impressive name here based on MLB accolades alone, but the Phillies slugger is a hot name in this market thanks to his stellar power metrics and a relatively easy path to the finals.

Schwarber has crushed an NL-best 29 home runs in 90 games, but that's just the beginning. He ranks fourth among all qualified hitters in xSLG (.637), fifth in ISO (.295), sixth in average exit velocity (93 mph), and eighth in hard-hit rate (52.5%), and his elite barrel rate (21.7%) ranks second behind only Aaron Judge.

Schwarber leads all derby competitors in each of those metrics, and he faces by far the easiest first-round matchup against long shot Albert Pujols, who was a late legacy add to this contest despite hitting just six home runs all year. It all lines up for a potential payday for Schwarber bettors.

Julio Rodriguez, Mariners (+775)

How could you not like these odds on one of the hottest hitters in baseball in one of the biggest moments of his life?

Rodriguez burst onto the scene this year with a .275/.337/.477 slash line and 16 homers in his first career 91 games, and he's been the catalyst for the Mariners' red-hot run. The rookie hit eight home runs in his last 24 games alone - tied for fifth-most in MLB and second in this field behind Schwarber (11).

There are likelier victors in this group, but Rodriguez has the most to prove on this stage as a rising star in baseball circles but a relative unknown to the general public. With his raw power and recent performance, he's well worth a play at this price.

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at [email protected].