Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz has opened as favorite to win the All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night in Atlanta.
As of Friday afternoon, Cruz was the plus-330 first choice to win the annual contest at DraftKings Sportsbook. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh was second at plus-360 and hometown favorite Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Braves was third at plus-450.
Raleigh, the stocky Mariners catcher, leads MLB with 36 home runs this season, which makes Cruz’s total of 16 pale in comparison. Cruz, however, launched the hardest-hit home run in MLB this season, a 122.9-mph blast May 25 against Milwaukee.
Washington outfielder James Wood is fourth at plus-600, Minnesota outfielder Bryon Buxton is next at plus-850 and Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is sixth at plus-900. Athletics outfielder Brent Rookie at plus-1000 and Tampa Bay infielder Junior Caminero is the longshot at plus-1100.
The odds are based on a $100 bet (i.e. a $10 bet on Cruz would yield $33 in winnings).
Cruz’s status as favorite is not unanimous. Several sportsbooks opened with Raleigh with the top odds and Cruz close behind.
Meanwhile, Pirates ace Paul Skenes is a plus-4500 shot to win All-Star Game MVP honors at DraftKings. Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani is the favorite at plus-550, followed by Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (plus-600) and Cubs breakout star Pete Crow-Armstrong (plus-900).