Dodgers OF Teoscar Hernandez wins
Home Run Derby
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[July 16, 2024]
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Home Run Derby went down to the wire
in thrilling fashion on Monday night at Globe Life Field.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez edged Kansas City
Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in the final, clubbing 14 homers to
Witt's 13. Witt nearly tied things up in the bonus round when he
sent a deep fly ball to left-center, but it clanked off the bottom
of the wall for the final out.
That paved the way for Hernandez to become the first Dodgers player
to win the event.
"If I have to bet, it doesn't matter who I'm going against, I'm
going to bet on myself," Hernandez said. "People maybe underestimate
myself. You can see it at the end when Witt was hitting all those
homers. Everybody was shooting for him. But I'm here, talented as
all those guys over there. They might be younger, but same talent."
Hernandez, who was making his Derby debut, finished with a total of
49 home runs on the night. Witt, who was also competing for the
first time, had 50.
Witt, who won the High School Home Run Derby during the 2018
All-Star festivities in Washington, was also looking to make
history, as no Royals player has ever won the event. He also had
plenty of crowd support since he went to high school at nearby
Colleyville Heritage, which is about 15 miles north of Arlington.
"That was fun. The crowd, the Texas-sized crowd, it was a lot of fun
being able to do that," Witt said. "To make it to the finals, it was
awesome. Teoscar put on a great show."
Hernandez was the 11th different player in Dodgers history to
compete in the event. He advanced out of the opening round with 19
home runs, then defeated the Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm in a
three-swing swing-off in the semifinals.
Bohm and Hernandez had each hit 14 long balls to force the
swing-off.
In the final, Hernandez went first and hit 11 home runs during
regulation. He added three more in the bonus round.
Witt had 11 home runs in regulation and was down to his final out of
the extra session when he cranked his 12th home run, which traveled
450 feet and bought him an additional out. He added one more homer
before his rally fell just short.
Witt said he knew he didn't fully connect on his final swing.
"I just was trying to blow on it or something," Witt said.
Several favorites in the Derby bowed out earlier than expected.
[to top of second column] |
Jul 15, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; National League outfielder Teoscar
Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers (37) bats during the finals of
the 2024 All Star Game Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field. Mandatory
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Texas Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia was the
hometown favorite, but he narrowly missed the opening-round cut with
18 home runs. The New York Mets' Pete Alonso, a two-time winner of
the event, finished with just 12 home runs in the first round, while
the Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson, the top home run hitter in
the field, had 11.
Henderson ranks third in the majors with 28 homers on the year.
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna was also eliminated
in the first round after blasting 16 homers.
"Obviously in it to win it, but it's always really fun out there,"
Alonso said. "I had a blast doing it and it's such a blessing to be
out here and perform."
This year's format featured the opening round and semifinals
consisting of each batter being given three minutes, or up to 40
balls, in regulation.
Then, each batter had a bonus round in which they received three
"outs," defined as any swing that does not result in a home run. A
batter could earn an additional "out" if he hit at least one home
run that went 425 feet or further with his additional swings.
In the final, the batters were given two minutes or 27 balls,
whichever came first, with the same bonus period as the previous
rounds.
--Drew Davison, Field Level Media
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