The Home Run Derby is an exciting event that happens on the eve of the All Star Game. It showcases the best hitters in the game of baseball against each other to see who can hit the most home runs. This year was especially different because the formatting had changed.
This year it was decided that there would be brackets for the players as well as a clock. Basically each player had four minutes to hit as many home runs as they can. When I first heard this rule, I didn't like it but after watching the derby last night I take back everything I said. I've seen every Home Run Derby since I've become a baseball fan but that was by far THE BEST one I've ever watched.
Here's what happened:
Round 1:
Anthony Rizzo #6 vs. Josh Donaldson #3
Anthony Rizzo, a slugger for the Chicago Cubs, got off to a rough start but heated up as time expired finishing with 8 homers. His longest was 452 feet. Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays also got off to a slow start but heated up and hit the decisive home run with just over 10 seconds remaining. Donaldson advanced to the next round with 9 home runs with his longest 465 feet.
Prince Fielder #7 vs. Todd Frazier #2
Prince Fielder of the Teas Rangers was consistent as he belted 13 home runs with his longest 474 feet. Todd Frazier of the Cincinnati Reds had the home field advantage throughout the night as the sellout crowd at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio was behind him right from the start. After hitting five home runs, he called a timeout. Then he got hot, tying Fielder before time expired. In bonus time, Frazier advanced to the next round on his first swing which sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Frazier finished with 14 home runs with his longest 474 feet.
Manny Machado #5 vs. Joc Pederson #4
Manny Machado, infielder for the Baltimore Orioles, smacked 12 home runs with his longest 469 feet. He took his timeout after five homers and with just under two minutes remaining and then added five more before bonus time. During bonus time, he hit two. Joc Pederson, rookie for the Los Angeles Dodgers, got off to a blazing start and didn't let up. He took his timeout when he trailed Machado by one. He only needed three swings to advance. Pederson finished with 13 home runs with his longest 487 feet.
Kris Bryant #8 vs. Albert Pujols #1
Kris Bryant, a rookie for the Cubs, hit his first home run 30 seconds in and called time after four homers and two minutes. He added one in bonus time, finishing with 9 home runs with his longest 462 feet. Alber Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, was the top seeded player. He got off to a slow start, calling time after three homers and 90 seconds. He came on strong at the end of the round to advance knocking the decisive shot as his pre-bonus time expired. He finished with 10 and his longest was 446 feet.
Round 2:
Donaldson #3 vs. Frazier #2
Donaldson hit 9 home runs with his longest being 450 feet. Frazier got off to a slow start and the hometown crowd got worried. He hit three straight grounders to begin the round but came back by hitting six homers before taking a timeout with 1:49 left. He pulled within one but went nine straight pitches without a homer in the final minute. With the fans on the edge of their seat, Frazier tied it with under 10 seconds left, then advanced to the finals with a 444 foot shot, his longest of the round, just as time expired. His total that round was 10.
Pderson #4 vs. Pujols #1
After a slow start, Pederson finished with 12 homers. He hit only three home runs before taking his time out with 2:20 to go. He got hot late, hitting six more in regulation, including four shots that exceeded 440 feet. Pederson took advantage of his 30 second bonus, connecting on each of his first three swings. He finished with 12 and his longest was 448 feet. Pujols struggled after a quick start but still managed to take the matchup down to the wire. He didn't just homer on his first three swings, but sent all three at least 440 feet. After eight consecutive homerless swings, he hit one more homer before taking a timeout with 2:13 remaining. Pujols, perhaps tired, hit a couple of grounders in the final minutes but hit a pair of homers just before the buzzer to pull within two entering bonus time. He hit his longest homer of the round, 452 feet, during the extra time but couldn't come up with the tying homer, finishing with 11.
Final Round Pederson #4 vs. Frazier #2
Pederson started cold, with no homers on his first seven swings, before things started clicking. He went deep on each of his next six cuts. After calling a timeout with 2:15 left, Pederson put together another four swing streak which included a 461 foot bomb. He closed out his night with one last home run during bonus time, putting pressure on Frazier. He finished with 14 homers with his longest 461 feet.
Frazier, the hometown hero, needed to have the best individual round of any player in order to take home the trophy. Challenge accepted. Even though there was a stretch of 10 consecutive homeless swings, Frazier put together a rally to pull off the victory. Frazier had just five homers when he took his timeout but he crushed nine home runs over his final 22 swings to tie Pederson entering bonus time. He needed nowhere near the extra 30 seconds, blasting the Derby winning homer on the first pitch to win 15-14. His longest in the championship round was 449 feet.
I just want to say that I've been a baseball fan for about 12 years and have seen just about every Home Run Derby. I wasn't sure whether or not I would like the new format but after watching it, I think the idea is genius. For the casual fan, even they would be entertained by what unfolded last night. A lot of people find the HR Derby boring, which I never understood but this format made it even more intense. I'm excited for the future of this event and look forward to 2018 when the All Star Game and all the festivities that surround it come to Washington, D.C.
Thank you Major League Baseball for changing the Derby and for an incredible night last night. Bravo. Sincerely, baseball fans everywhere.
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