Blue Jays Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Flexes His Power to Win Home Run Derby
It took four years after his show-stopping performance in 2019, but Blue Jays infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is finally a Home Run Derby champion.
Guerrero Jr. defeated Rays left fielder Randy Arozarena in a lively Derby on Monday evening at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, making him and his father, Vladimir Guerrero, the first father-son duo to win the event. The elder Guerrero, then a right fielder with the Angels, won the 2007 Home Run Derby at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
To take the crown, Guerrero Jr. easily handled Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts in the first round, eliminated Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez in the semifinals and hung on to edge Arozarena in the finals, 25–23.
Rodriguez provided the Derby's biggest individual highlight, smashing a record 41 home runs in the first round in front of his home crowd to knock out two-time champion Mets first baseman Pete Alonso.
Arozarena emerged from a competitive opposite side of the bracket. Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman wowed fans by hitting from both sides of the plate to rack up 27 home runs in the first round, but lost by one to White Sox center fielder Luis Robert, who lost to Arozarena in the semifinals.
Guerrero Jr. previously competed in the Derby in '19, belting 91 home runs in Cleveland but losing to Alonso in the finals.
