Braves News: Ronald Acuña Jr. to face Pete Alonso in Home Run Derby

Ronald Acuña Jr. has a chance to dethrone a familiar face in the opening round of the 2022 Home Run Derby.

Acuña was named the seventh seed in this years’ Home Run Derby, with Alonso being named the second seed. The winner between the two NL East sluggers will take on either Julio Rodriguez or Corey Seager in the semifinal round of the bracket.

Pete Alonso is the two-time defending champion of the home run derby, winning back to back titles after beating Trey Mancini in the final round of the 2021’s derby.

He is the third back-to-back Homr Run Derby champion in the event’s history, along with Ken Griffey Jr. (1998-99) and Yoenis Cespedes (2013-14).

Acuña’s first Home Run Derby appearance was in 2019, when he eliminated Josh Bell in the first round. In the second round, he was just one home run short of taking down Alonso in the 20-19 semifinal loss.

Acuña’s second appearance in the derby also marks the first time Atlanta has had a participant since 2019, when it was him. Matt Olson participated last season as a member of the Oakland Athletics, falling to eventual runner-up Mancini in the first round.

Half of this years’ Home Run Derby are from NL East teams, with Acuña and Alonso being joined by Juan Soto and Kyle Schwarber.

There’s a whopping total of $2.5 million being given out to the participants of this years’ Home Run Derby, with the winner taking home a $1 million check. The losing finalist will be awarded $500,000 and the other six participants will earn $150,000.

The player with the longest home run will also get an extra $100,000. Juan Soto hit the longest home run in last years’ derby with a monster 520-foot blast.

The 2022 Home Run Derby will take place on Monday at 8 p.m. ET and air on ESPN.