Blue Jays: Who will Vladimir Guerrero Jr. face in first round of 2023 Home Run Derby?

The 2023 MLB Home Run Derby is finally upon us! Eight of the game's best sluggers will face off to see who is the best home run hitter in the league today.

• When: 8:00pm ET on Monday, July 10
• Where: Seattle, WA at T-Mobile Park, home of the Mariners
• TV channel: ESPN

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays will be making his triumphant return to the event after tragically losing out in the 2019 installment back when he was a rookie. Now, he is eyeing the $1 million prize money awarded to the HRD champion. Here's how the field is shaping up for the first round.

• No. 1 seed Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox) vs. No. 8 seed Adley Rutschman (Orioles)
• No. 2 seed Pete Alonso (Mets) vs. No. 7 seed Julio Rodríguez (Mariners)
• No. 3 seed Mookie Betts (Dodgers) vs. No. 6 seed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays)
• No. 4 seed Adolis García (Rangers) vs. No. 5 seed Randy Arozarena (Rays)

The winner of No. 1 vs. No. 8 will take on the winner of No. 4 vs. No. 5 in the second round, and the winner of No. 2 vs. No. 7 will face the winner of No. 3 vs. No. 6.

While the Derby has had a few rule changes over the years, it's still a pretty straightforward event to follow along. Here are some of the main rules you need to know:

• Each contestant in the first and second rounds get three minutes to hit as many home runs as they can. In the final round, contestants get just two minutes.
• Every participant gets a 30-second bonus at the end of each regulation period and they are able to earn an additional 30-second bonus if any of their home runs travel over 440 feet.
• Any round ending in a tie will end by a minute-long "swing off" with no times outs. If there's another tie at the end of this, there will be additional three-swing "swing offs" until the tie is broken.