Home Sports MLB Home Run Derby: Teoscar Hernández beats Bobby Witt Jr. to win title in Arlington

MLB Home Run Derby: Teoscar Hernández beats Bobby Witt Jr. to win title in Arlington

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MLB Home Run Derby: Teoscar Hernández beats Bobby Witt Jr. to win title in Arlington

Teoscar Hernández is the new champion of the MLB Home Run Derby.

Hernandez beat Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. in the final round of the Home Run Derby on Monday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, after a very interesting rendition of the national anthem. Hernandez barely edged out Witt in the final round, as Witt’s last attempt, which could have tied Hernandez, fell just short.

Hernandez is the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win the Home Run Derby and the seventh Dominican-born player to win the event. His victory also earned him a $1 million bonus.

This year, the Derby had some notable changes that sped up the event a bit. All eight players made it through the first round and then the top four players (Hernandez, Witt, Alec Bohm and Jose Ramirez) advanced to a final four. Pete Alonso, who was seeking his third Derby win, Adolis Garcia, Gunnar Henderson and Marcell Ozuna were eliminated in the first round.

Witt beat Ramirez in their semifinal battle by hitting 17 home runs in the round. Ramirez hit just four home runs on his first 25 pitches in that round.

Hernandez then beat Bohm in a thrilling semi-final after each player hit 14 home runs in their battle for a spot in the final.

Hernandez was first up in the championship round and looked a little tired right away. He hit just four homers on his first 14 pitches before his timeout, but he came out strong and hit five of his next six homers to finish with 11 homers before his bonus round, in which he added three more homers to reach 14.

With that number to top, Witt also came out slow. He missed his first five hits and then called timeout with just four homers and 15 pitches remaining. A strong finish, however, brought him to 11 in regulation, matching Hernandez’s mark.

But Witt missed his first two shots in the bonus round, immediately putting him at a disadvantage. Although he hit two home runs to give himself a chance, his final attempt stopped just short of the center-field wall.

That officially gave Hernandez the title.

MLB’s All-Star weekend will conclude with the All-Star Game on Tuesday. The season will resume on Friday.

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  • Teoscar Hernandez is your Home Run Derby champion

    Bobby Witt Jr. needed three home runs in his bonus round to catch Teoscar Hernandez in the Home Run Derby final. He hit two. Hernandez secured the crown with 14 homers in a thrilling finale in which Witt fell short.

    Hernandez had 11 homers in regulation and then hit three more in his bonus round to set the number at 14.

    Witt matched him with 11 homers in regulation, then hit two in the bonus round with two outs remaining. On his final out, Witt hit a ball to deep center field that had a chance.

    But it bounced off the wall and stayed in the park to secure the title for Hernandez.

  • Bobby Witt Jr. has 11 homers in regulation. He needs three to tie and four to beat Teoscar Hernandez in their bonus round with the Derby crown on the line.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    Teoscar Hernández makes his first appearance in the derby

    It’s clear that Teoscar Hernandez was struggling after two rounds plus a swing-off, but he still managed to send a good number of home runs into the upper deck of left field in his final round.

    Hernandez has long been one of baseball’s most underrated power hitters, and his performance Monday at Globe Life Field — even if Bobby Witt Jr. manages to surpass Hernandez’s total of 14 — was a good reminder of that. He could still prevail as our champion.

    Witt will take up the role shortly…

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Teoscar Hernandez hits three home runs in his bonus round to raise his final-round tally to 14. That’s the number Bobby Witt Jr. must surpass with the Home Run Derby crown on the line.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Another good use of a timeout by Hernandez. He hit seven homers on 14 pitches after his break to give him 11 in regulation. On to the bonus round.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Hernandez calls a timeout with 14 pitches and 57 seconds left. He has four homers.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Teoscar Hernandez is the first to pitch. Each batter has 27 pitches in the final.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Legendary announcer Michael Buffer is on the broadcast to call the final between Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez. Nice touch.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    Hernandez wins swing-off and advances to final against Witt

    A swing-off! We’ve seen several of these over the years, and they rarely disappoint. After Hernandez and Bohm tied at 14 apiece in the semifinals, each player was given three swings — and only three swings — to add to their total.

    Hernandez went first, and he homered on two of his three swings, putting pressure on Bohm to tie the record, which he didn’t do. To his credit, Bohm showed a lot more than many expected in this event, but Hernandez strikes me as a more traditional power hitter, worthy of a Finals showdown with Bobby Witt Jr.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Bohm comes out on the swing-off

    The final contestant in the semi-finals, Alec Bohm, started off slow, but after a timeout, he picked up the pace and ended up tying Teoscar Hernandez’s 14 homers, sending things into the always intriguing swing-off.

    In the end, Bohm didn’t have enough to defeat Teo, who homered on two of his three swings before Bohm managed just one swinging homer. Still, this was an impressive performance from Bohm, who has never been known for his power.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Bobby Witt Jr. vs Teoscar Hernandez for the Home Run Derby crown

    Teoscar Hernandez will face Bobby Witt Jr. in the final. Hernandez hit two home runs on a swing-off against one by Alec Bohm to advance with 16 homers in the semifinal round.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    We have a swing-off. Alec Bohm and Teoscar Hernandez are tied at 14 after Bohm failed to hit a home run in the bonus round. The winner takes the crown over Bobby Witt Jr.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Alec Bohm got his act together after his timeout. 11 homers in his last 23 swings to tie Teoscar Hernandez. He only needs one in his bonus round to advance to the finals.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Alec Bohm got off to a slow start in his final at-bat of the semifinals. He has three homers in his timeout on 23 pitches with 1:41 left.

    “There are not many,” he said during the break.

    It’s not.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    Can Hernandez hold off Bohm in the semi-finals?

    Outside of Ozuna, it was Teoscar Hernandez who hit the biggest home runs of the first round, with multiple homers traveling more than 440 feet and a high of 466.

    The home runs continued into the second round, but not as consistently, and Hernandez is now on shaky ground, with 14 homers total as Alec Bohm prepares for what could be a pretty surprising run to the Finals if he can top Hernandez’s modest total.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Teoscar Hernandez hits a home run in his bonus round to finish with 14. Will it be enough to fend off Alec Bohm? The winner advances to face Bobby Witt Jr. for the Home Run Derby crown.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    More here on the much-discussed national anthem.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Teoscar Hernandez found his groove after his time out. He finishes with 13 homers in regulation before his bonus round.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr

    Teoscar Hernandez is in first place in the second semifinal matchup and is struggling to shine. Three homers in 18 swings before his timeout.

  • MLB Home Run Derby Teoscar Hernandez beats Bobby Witt Jr.com%2Fimages%2Fdims

    Jose Ramirez retires in the semi-finals

    A truly valiant effort from Ramirez, whose raw power might not be remotely on par with the rest of the field, but whose ability to consistently deposit fly balls just over the right-field fence was on display all the way up until he was eliminated against Bobby Witt Jr. in the semifinals.

    Most importantly, I’m glad Ramirez, a switch-hitter who was batting left-handed, advanced to the semifinals so fans sitting in right field would have another chance to hit some home runs in the Derby, considering most of the field is batting right-handed.

    More importantly, Bobby Witt Jr. advances to the finals, keeping the possibility of a fairytale ending to tonight’s event in play.

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