MLB Home Run Derby: Who Has the Most Home Runs in a Single Derby, a Single Round, and a Career?

The MLB Home Run Derby is easily one of the most entertaining events on the baseball calendar. Fans dig the long ball, and we’ve seen some great performances since the competition was added to the annual All-Star Game festivities in 1985.

Inspired by the classic Home Run Derby TV series from 1960, which featured the likes of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle, the MLB Home Run Derby has undergone several rule changes since its inception.

It started as a short outs-based competition, evolved into a multi-round competition, and is now a bracket-style timed event. The new format certainly allows for more swings and larger totals, which is why the vast majority of the records you’ll see below have come in just the last few years.

So without further ado, let’s check out who has the most dingers in the MLB Home Run Derby for a single competition, a single round, and a career.

Who has the most home runs in a single MLB Home Run Derby?

Before the timed format replaced “outs” in 2015, the record for the most home runs in a single MLB Home Run Derby was 41 by Bobby Abreu in 2005 at Comerica Park in Detroit.

But in the first year of the timed format, Giancarlo Stanton shattered that mark, hitting 61 at Petco Park in San Diego. And while that total is still fourth on the all-time list, it’s a whopping 30 short of the record, which was set by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at Progressive Field in Cleveland in 2019.

Despite setting the all-time record, Guerrero Jr. didn’t win the Home Run Derby that year, losing 23-22 to Pete Alonso in the final round. The man in second place, Julio Rodriguez, who hit 81 in 2022 at Dodger Stadium, didn’t win either, losing to Juan Soto in the finals, 19-18.

Here’s a look at the top five.

Who has the most home runs in a single round?

Prior to the timed format, the record for the most home runs in a single round of the MLB Home Run Derby belonged to Josh Hamilton, who blasted 28 in the first round in a dynamite performance at Yankee Stadium in 2008.

But that’s no longer even in the top five (it’s actually now eighth).

During his record-breaking performance in 2019, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. topped Hamilton’s total by hitting 29 in the first round. He then shattered that record a round later by mashing 40 in his semifinal matchup with Joc Pederson, who hit 39 of his own.

Of course, those two totals only exist because Guerrero Jr. and Pederson had multiple swing-offs as they continued to match one another. Nevertheless, those home runs still count. Without swing-offs, the single-round record in the MLB Home Run Derby would belong to Pete Alonso, who hit 35 in the first round at Coors Field in 2021.

Julio Rodriguez claimed two of the top spots in 2022, blasting 32 in the first round at Dodger Stadium and another 31 in the second round.

Here’s a look at the top five, which is actually six, as Rodriguez and Soto are tied for fifth as Soto hit 31 in the first round in 2021.

Who has the most career home runs in the MLB Home Run Derby?

As for who holds the record for the most career home runs in the MLB Home Run Derby, that would be two-time champion Pete Alonso, who’s hit 174 in three appearances. Albert Pujols jumped into the second spot with his fifth and final appearance, hitting 35 at Dodger Stadium in 2022.

And just so you can see some names not from only the last few seasons, here’s a look at the top 10.

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