Astros: Yordan Alvarez would excel in the home run derby

While the 2021 All-Star festivities including the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby were pulled from Atlanta as a response to a governmental issue, it has been reported that it will be moving to Denver, Colorado. With the air being so thin at the city that is a mile high, Houston Astros‘ designated hitter Yordan Alvarez should be the first person asked.

As a not well-known name in the game of baseball, it is obvious that the 2019 AL Rookie of the Year isn’t a poster player for MLB, but that shouldn’t matter for the best home run hitter in the game. Baseball is changing, and fans want to see a monstrous home run show at the Summer Classic, so this is the best time to engrave Alvarez’s swing into fans’ minds.

With the thin air, Yordan Alvarez would excel in the Home Run Derby either way.

As most players thrive off the thin air at Coors Field in Denver, offensive numbers have been deemed inflated, but this doesn’t matter for Alvarez. While we don’t have any more information on the Home Run Derby just yet, the big left-hander would crush baseballs in Colorado.

Alvarez will be out the next two series, as he was moved to the injured list, as there was a positive COVID-19 case in the Astros’ clubhouse. While these five games won’t hurt his numbers in the end, Alvarez is hitting well, although coming down to Earth in a small slump in his last 12 at bats. In 49 plate appearances, the left-hander is slashing .283/.306/.500 with two home runs and eight RBIs. The swing is still there; it just depends on if he finds the right pitch:

Taking a look at his 2019 numbers, Alvarez was on pace for around 50+ home runs, if he had played a full season. Missing all but two games of 2020 affected the reputation and early career of the Cuban slugger, but after a hot start in 2021, Alvarez looks to be back. While he’s away on the injured list, he will have the time to regroup and find his swing, after a short slump.

At an analytical outlook, his 2021 numbers are too deflated to analyze the true Alvarez, when dealing with Baseball Savant. While taking another look at 2019, the left-hander is in the 90+ percentile of hitting rankings, as he had one of the highest barrel percentages, maximum exit velocities and hard hit percentages. The list goes on and on, but in the end, it’s a business and more tickets sell when those hitting are the best in the game.

The 2021 Home Run Derby is scheduled for Monday, July 12, and while there wasn’t one in 2020, this should be a nice show to welcome back more fans to ballparks. As certain stadiums increase attendance, All-Star Game festivities bring a certain energy of baseball and summer that every fan loves. While Pete Alonso is the reigning champion, it is time to pass it on to the other 2019 Rookie of the Year, Yordan Alvarez. The idea of killing a player’s swing could come into play, but Alvarez is one of the best adjusters in the game and the ball will fly well in Coors Field.