Pedro Oliveira
Today, we bring you a list of ten players who are the favorites to win the home run leader award with little over two weeks until the start of the 2022 season in the major leagues with their respective betting odds.
With a very short Spring Training and the addition of the designated hitter to the National League, it will be a year in which we could see a big offensive change in all the majors, but for now, the American League still has the most representatives on this list, with eight in total. We present the favorite hitters to be crowned home run leader in the 2022 season.
10.- Franmil Reyes – Cleveland Guardians (+1600)
The Guardians’ young designated hitter connected on 30 home runs in 2021 through 115 games played, missing a significant portion of games thanks to an internal oblique muscle injury midway through the campaign. Had it not happened, the Dominican had the chance to compete with his compatriot Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Venezuelan catcher Salvador Perez for the home run lead last season, having the physical potential to hit 50 bombs at any time.
9.- Rafael Devers – Boston Red Sox (+1500)
Earning his first All-Star Game selection, the 25-year-old again had a stellar campaign at the plate, racking up 38 homers, 113 RBIs, 101 runs scored and 37 doubles in addition to a .279/.352/.538 line through 156 games with the Red Sox. The 2021 edition of the major leagues left him poised to continue his growth as a player, and 2022 could be the year he surpasses the 40-ball mark for the first time in his career.
Shohei Ohtani – Los Angeles Angels (+1500)
Current MVP of the American League, the Japanese was in the race for the home run crown for almost all of 2021; however, he had to settle for third place after being surpassed by Salvador Perez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. by a difference of only two homers, finishing the year with a total of 46 home runs (the highest mark of his career), plus 100 runs batted in, 103 runs scored, 26 doubles and a line of .257/.372/.592.
Oddsmakers in the betting world doubt Ohtani will be able to put up such a spectacular season again in terms of power, which is why his positioning is so low compared to his performance in 2021.
7.- Joey Gallo – New York Yankees (+1400)
After hitting 41 and 40 homers in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, the 28-year-old outfielder had a dip in power in 2019 and 2020 (just 32 home runs in 127 games), but 2021 was a positively trending year for Gallo with 38 homers hit in 153 games, and now being at Yankee Stadium for a full campaign will surely give him even more leverage to start the season getting the ball out of the ground.
6.- Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels (+1400)
The three-time MVP award winner was on track to post the best season of his illustrious career in 2021, but a serious injury to his right calf kept him out for the remainder of the campaign since May. The .333/.466/.624 line along with eight homers, eight doubles, 18 RBIs and 23 runs scored in 36 games is very hard to ignore. This player, one of the best players of the decade, will reach 2022 fully healthy, and more eager than ever to put the Angels in the postseason.
5.- Matt Olson – Atlanta Braves (+1300)
The starter also had the most success in 2021, earning his first career All-Star selection and reaching a career-high 39 home runs. He did all that with a poor Oakland Athletics team, one of the least hitter-friendly stadiums in the American League. Now being with the Atlanta Braves, the reigning major league champions, and with a friendlier park to showcase his power, 2022 could be the year Olson becomes one of the best sluggers in all of MLB.
4.- Salvador Pérez – Kansas City Royals (+1300)
It would be an understatement to say that Salvador Perez’s outburst in the second half of the campaign was not outstanding. With a total of 48 home runs, the Royals’ catcher concluded 2021 in a tie with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for first place in that category. He also took over the top spot in RBIs by being the only player to achieve the mark of 121.
With a .273/.316/.544 line, the 31-year-old Venezuelan will be back for the crown in 2022 with a Kansas City team that will be looking to storm the American League Central division. Because of his position, his physicality may be affected at some point during the season, which is why he is positioned fourth.
3.- Aaron Judge – New York Yankees (+1200)
Judge was finally able to break the 30-HR barrier for the first time since 2017 (when he hit 52 total) and a big part of that accomplishment was being able to stay healthy for most of the campaign (39 homers through 148 games in 2021). Judge has always had both the physicality and the swing to lead the major leagues in home runs, and we are confident that this year he will look to surpass his previous figure. His contract expires soon, and he will look to maximize his performance to get the perfect amount in his renewal with the Yankees or in free agency in 2023.
2.- Pete Alonso – New York Mets (+1000)
The Mets first baseman has been unable to match the performance he had in his rookie season, where he sent 53 balls into the stands to lead MLB in 2019. 2021 was a somewhat bittersweet season for the 27-year-old, with 37 homers to his name in 152 games, but overall the New York Mets’ season was a complete disaster. However, in that stretch of time, Pete has won two home run derbies, confirming that the power is still there, it just needs to be brought out over the plate.
With a more competitive team, a more positive situation and the arrival of Buck Showalter as the team’s manager, everything is on the table for Alonso to regain the power that led him to win Rookie of the Year, making him the second favorite to lead the major leagues in home runs.
1. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – Toronto Blue Jays (+700)
2021 was a dream year for the Dominican, being basically the only candidate to win the Triple Crown of batting at various points of the season. Although he couldn’t get it, he shared the home run lead with Salvador Perez (with 48 total) along with a .311/.401/.601 line, 111 RBIs, 123 runs scored, 29 doubles and 86 bases on balls in 161 games.
Remember that Vlady is only 23 years old, and it was only a matter of time before his potential materialized. He is now shaping up to be a permanent candidate in this competition, as his bat technique and physical power are almost unmatched in today’s MLB. With the Blue Jays’ offense getting better and better and Guerrero Jr. at the top of it, the first baseman is the favorite to win the home run crown in 2022.
