Seager vs. J-Rod: Who has edge in Derby?

Baseball’s biggest sluggers will battle it out at Dodger Stadium on Monday in the annual T-Mobile Home Run Derby (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). Here’s a breakdown of the first-round matchup between No. 3 seed Corey Seager and No. 6 seed Julio Rodríguez. (Seeding is based on 2022 home run totals through July 12.)

OTHER FIRST-ROUND MATCHUPS

• Schwarber vs. Pujols
• Acuña vs. Alonso
• Soto vs. J-Ram

FAST FACTS

Corey Seager, Rangers
Born: April 27, 1994 (Age 28)
Birthplace: Charlotte, NC
Drafted: 18th overall, 2012 (Dodgers)
Debuted: Sept. 3, 2015 (Dodgers)
Bats: Left
Jersey number: 5

Julio Rodríguez, Mariners
Born: Dec. 29, 2000 (Age 21)
Birthplace: Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic
Signed: July 2, 2017 (Mariners)
Debuted: April 8, 2022 (Mariners)
Bats: Right
Jersey number: 44

2022 NUMBERS

Seager (22 HR): While he’s not known for his power, Seager is on pace for almost 40 home runs in 2022. The 26 he hit in his 2016 Rookie of the Year campaign still stand as his single-season best as of the All-Star break.

Rodríguez (16 HR): It took some time for Rodríguez to get his feet under him -- he hit his first home run in his 21st game of the season -- but since mid-May, there’s been no stopping him. The 15 homers he’s hit since May 15 are tied for eighth-most in baseball (Aaron Judge, Austin Riley and Kyle Schwarber are in the lead in that time span with 19.)

CAREER NUMBERS

Seager (126 HR): He also ranks 5th among active players (and 19th all-time) in home runs at Dodger Stadium, with 59, all hit as a member of the Dodgers.

Rodríguez (16 HR): With just 16 career home runs coming into this year's contest, Rodríguez ties with Evan Longoria in 2008 for the fewest for any Derby competitor, trailing only Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had eight in the first half of 2019, and Kris Bryant, who had 12 in 2015.

DERBY HISTORY

Seager (2nd appearance): It’s been six years since Seager made a Derby appearance -- his first was in the midst of his outstanding 2016 season -- but he fared quite well in his debut. Despite being eliminated by Mark Trumbo, the 15 homers he hit were the third-most in the first round behind Trumbo (16) and Giancarlo Stanton (24).

Rodríguez (1st appearance): Rodríguez will be just the 14th rookie to participate in the Home Run Derby. If he were to take home the trophy -- a feat for a player of any age -- he would be just the third rookie to do so outright in the history of the contest.

STATCAST CRED

Seager: The longest home run of Seager's career came at the very end of his Dodgers tenure, on Sept. 26, 2021, a 464-footer at Chase Field. The 115.3 mph laser he hit four days later also stands as the third hardest-hit home run at Dodger Stadium since 2015.

Rodríguez: The first home run Rodríguez hit at the Major League level traveled 450 feet, the third-longest by a rookie in 2022. His second went 423, with a season-high exit velocity of 114 mph. Both feats were also Mariners bests this season, as of July 17.