Jazz Chisholm Jr. Biggest Home Run Derby Longshot on ESPN, FanDuel Sportsbooks

Jazz Chisholm Jr. Biggest Home Run Derby Longshot on ESPN, FanDuel Sportsbooks originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

It is not often that a New York Yankee is considered an underdog. 

Tonight in the Home Run Derby, Jazz Chilsholm Jr. will be the biggest underdog of the whole competition. 

According to the available betting odds on ESPN and FanDuel, Chisholm has the smallest chance of winning the contest. ESPN has him at a 12-1 shot, while FanDuel has even less faith at 16-1. 

He has the second-lowest number home runs out of all participants, but Oneil Cruz is nearly the betting favorite despite having hit even less homers than Chisholm. 

Sportsbooks are being heavily influenced by the physical sizes of these two. They are far more confident the 6-foot-7, 220-pound Cruz will have an easier time than the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Yankee.

It isn’t about how far they go, it’s about how many you hit. 

Jazz has an easy, compact swing. He has increased his launch angle this year, from 11.4 degrees last year to 17.0. An approach like his could yield a lot of dingers. 

Hitters have either 3 minutes or 40 pitches in the first round, whichever comes first. Chisholm should be able to use all 40 pitches and maximize his chances. 

The Home Run Derby really is an endurance challenge, as well. Every year, guys are breathing heavy and clearly way more tired at the end than when they start. Someone with Chisholm’s size could have an easier time sustaining throughout the competition. 

Would I ever advise someone to wager confidently on a 16-1 longshot? Definitely not. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible, and we could see the odds get even more favorable for bettors as the start time approaches.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.