Alonso, Pujols, Acuña Jr. set for Home Run Derby

Mets slugger Pete Alonso will try to become the first player to win the All-Star Home Run Derby three consecutive times against a field that will also include the Cardinals' Albert Pujols and Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr.

The New York first baseman confirmed Monday he is one of eight participants in the July 18 competition at Dodger Stadium.

Alonso hit 74 total home runs in last year's Derby at Denver's Coors Field and beat Baltimore's Trey Mancini 23-22 in the final round. Alonso joined Ken Griffey Jr. (1998-99) and Yoenis Céspedes (2013-14) in winning consecutive titles.

Pujols will participate in his fifth Derby after coming up short in 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2015. He and Detroit's Miguel Cabrera were added to the AllStar rosters as special selections by Commissioner Rob Manfred.

Pujols will participate in the Derby at one of his former homes. He played 85 games with the Dodgers last season after being cut by the Angels, then signed with St. Louis before this season, which he has said will be his last.

Pujols, 42, has five homers this season and 684 in his career, fifth on the all-time list.

Acuña will be a starting outfielder for the NL and compete in his second Home Run Derby.

There was no Derby in 2020, when the All-Star Game scheduled for Dodger Stadium was canceled due to the pandemic.

Alonso won the 2019 Derby at Cleveland as a rookie when he defeated Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the final round, also by 23-22. MERRIFIELD'S IRONMAN STREAK OVER » Kansas City Royals infielder Whit Merrifield's streak of playing in a franchise-record 553 straight games ended Monday when he missed the opener of a doubleheader against Detroit because of a right toe injury.

The two-time All-Star's string dated to June 24, 2018, and was the longest active streak in the major leagues.