Mariners star Julio Rodríguez will take the Home Run Derby stage in front of his home fans on July 10, one year after putting forth a memorable Derby performance in the middle of his rookie season.

Rookies participating in the Home Run Derby was not a common occurrence for the first few decades of the event, which began in 1985. But more recently, it has become a showcase for some of baseball’s brightest young stars, who have thrilled us with eye-popping displays of power.

Here is a look at how rookies have performed in the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby, starting with the three winners.

WINNERS

Pete Alonso, Mets
Year: 2019
Total HRs: 57
The Mets had seven Derby entries prior to 2019, but Alonso was the first player in franchise history to win the event outright. He got past Carlos Santana and Ronald Acuña Jr. in the first two rounds before defeating Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in a rookie vs. rookie showdown, 23-22. Alonso successfully defended his title in 2021, joining a very select group of sluggers who have won multiple Derbies.

Aaron Judge, Yankees
Year: 2017
Total HRs: 47
Alonso went on to bash 53 home runs during the 2019 regular season, eclipsing Judge’s then-AL/NL rookie record of 52 dingers, which he set two years prior. the Yankees superstar put on a Ruthian show in Miami as he launched four balls more than 500 feet and recorded 16 homers with an exit velocity of at least 115 mph. Even his swings that didn’t count as home runs were notable, such as this drive that deflected off the roof of loanDepot Park.

Wally Joyner, Angels
Year: 1986
Total HRs: 4 (tied with Darryl Strawberry)
From 1985-90, the Home Run Derby was structured as a two-inning event with each hitter getting five “outs” (non-homer swings) per inning. Thus, home run totals were far lower than what we see today. Joyner and Strawberry were named co-champions in the first and only tie in Derby history. Here is something Joyner doesn't share: The honor of being the first rookie voted to start in the All-Star Game.

• Here's who is participating in the 2023 Home Run Derby

OTHER ENTRIES

Julio Rodríguez, Mariners
Year: 2022
Total HRs: 81
Although he ultimately fell short against Juan Soto in the finals, Rodríguez lit up Dodger Stadium with his charisma and power. He became the first player to record multiple 30-homer rounds in the Derby and, with 31 taters in the second round, thwarted Alonso's attempt at a three-peat. His 32 homers in the first round featured 10 clouts that flew at least 440 feet.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
Year: 2019
Total HRs: 91
Vlad Jr. hinted that fatigue might have cost him in his battle against Alonso in ‘19, but who could blame him? If you hit 91 pitches that traveled a combined 7.3 miles in one night, you would be tired, too. His achievement was highlighted by an epic duel against the Dodgers’ Joc Pederson in a second round that featured 79 dingers. Guerrero entered this Derby with only eight big league homers, and at 20 years and 114 days, was the youngest participant in its history.

Cody Bellinger, Dodgers
Year: 2017
Total HRs: 27
With his father, Clay, serving as his pitcher, Cody Bellinger clubbed 15 homers in the first round to defeat Charlie Blackmon. That led to a matchup between Bellinger and Judge, the season’s eventual Rookie of the Year Award winners. Although Bellinger added 12 more dingers, his run came to an end. But he certainly wasn’t disappointed in his performance.  

“I knew I had no chance,” Bellinger said afterward. “At that point, I'm just glad I won the first round.”

Corey Seager, Dodgers
Year: 2016
Total HRs: 15
Seager’s homers off of his father, Jeff, weren’t enough to take down No. 1 seed Mark Trumbo, who launched 16 taters in the first round. The 2016 NL Rookie of the Year sent 10 pitches flying more than 400 feet and topped out with a 454-foot crush job.

Joc Pederson, Dodgers
Year: 2015
Total HRs: 39
Are you sensing a trend here? It makes sense that the franchise with the most Rookie of the Year winners has also sent the most rookies to the Derby. Pederson’s total here matched his output in that aforementioned second-round faceoff against Vlad Jr. He produced some of this contest's biggest blasts -- including an estimated 481-foot dinger in the first round -- before losing in the finals to Reds infielder Todd Frazier in front of the Cincinnati faithful.

Kris Bryant, Cubs
Year: 2015
Total HRs: 9
This was just the second Derby in which multiple rookies took part. Bryant lost to Albert Pujols in the first round, but he bopped some majestic dingers along the way, averaging 427 feet per homer. He also did one better than teammate Anthony Rizzo, who was dispatched after putting up eight home runs in the first round.

Evan Longoria, Rays
Year: 2008
Total HRs: 3
The first Rays player to appear in the Home Run Derby, Longoria put two pitches into the upper deck in left field at Yankee Stadium. He finished in last place, but that was quickly forgotten as just about everyone took a back seat to Josh Hamilton’s ridiculous first round.

Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox
Year: 1997
Total HRs: 0
Garciaparra earned a spot in the Derby by winning the preceding Rookie Home Run Derby with three homers, besting Scott Rolen, Jose Guillen and Scott Spiezio. Although he came up empty in the main event, Garciaparra had company as Jim Thome also finished with zero.

• Derby history: Looking back at past slugfests

Mike Piazza, Dodgers
Year: 1993
Total HRs: 0
Piazza is a Hall of Famer, the best power-hitting catcher of all time and could literally hit a ball out of the stadium during a game. But Home Run Derbies didn’t seem to be his thing. He participated in 1993 and 1994 and ended each with the same ignominious total.

Mark McGwire, A’s
Year: 1987
Total HRs: 1
The 1987 Derby featured only four players and eight home runs overall. When you think of Mark McGwire and the Home Run Derby, you probably don’t immediately think of ‘87 or even his win in 1992; you think of his jaw-dropping display at Fenway Park in 1999.

Jose Canseco, A’s
Year: 1986
Total HRs: 1
McGwire followed in the footsteps of his Bash Brother in Oakland. While Joyner led the AL squad in '86, fellow rookie Canseco brought up the rear. He competed again in 1990 and failed to hit any home runs.