Pete Alonso confirms he will go for third straight title in Home Run Derby

The 2022 Home Run Derby will feature an attempt at a "Three-Pete."

After being named to the National League team at the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game on Sunday, Pete Alonso confirmed he will participate in the Home Run Derby on July 18 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Mets star has taken home the crown in the past two events, and will look to become the first player since Ken Griffey Jr. to win the event three times in a row.

"That'd be sick, but I'm just going to be out there having a ton of fun and just showcasing what I've got and competing," Alonso said. "I don't really know who else is going to be doing it, but for me, it doesn't really matter because I'm out there having a blast and it's something that I really enjoy doing. It's going to be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to putting on a show."

METS ALL-STARSThese four NY Mets players were named to the National League All-Star team

Alonso confirmed that Dave Jauss, who threw for the Mets first baseman in his last victory in Colorado, will once again pitch at the event. Jauss, who served as the Mets' bench coach last season, now works as an advisor for the Washington Nationals.

Last season, Alonso blasted 74 home runs over three rounds to win the title, topping the Orioles' Trey Mancini in the final.

"There's this insane graphic where other than the one he hit me, I know that sounds bad, but other than that one, he was within a super, super tight area," Alonso said. "Looking back on it, the odds for me to win were pretty slim especially with where I was in the standings and people not necessarily understanding who I am. Jaussy gave me the best chance I possibly could to compete and win."

He hit 57 in three rounds in 2019, topping the Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the final.

Alonso said he had a casual conversation with Jauss, who Alonso considers to be a part of his "baseball family," and the Nationals advisor said he would be loose for the event after throwing during the Home Run Derby X event in England last weekend.

In his first Derby contest back in 2019, Alonso's second cousin Derek Morgan threw to him in his victory in Cleveland.

Alonso is in the midst of another outstanding season in Queens. In 85 games entering Monday, he's batting .273 with 23 homers and an MLB-best 70 RBIs. The 27-year-old is also sporting a .348 on-base percentage.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Pete Alonso in Home Run Derby 2022, will try for third title