Teoscar Hernandez is the new MLB Home Run Derby champion.
Hernandez defeated Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. in the final inning of the Home Run Derby on Monday at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas — after a thrilling rendition of the national anthem. Hernandez narrowly beat Witt in the final inning as Witt’s last-ditch effort, which could have tied Hernandez’s, fell painfully short.
Hernandez is the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win the Home Run Derby and the seventh Dominican player to win the event. He also received a $1 million bonus for his win.
This year’s Derby saw some notable changes, which sped up the pace a bit. All eight players reached the target in the first round, and the top four – Hernandez, Witt, Alec Bohm and Jose Ramirez – advanced to the semifinals. Pete Alonso, who was looking for his third Derby win, Adolis Garcia, Gunnar Henderson and Marcell Ozuna were eliminated in the opening round.
Whitt beat Ramirez in their semifinal battle by hitting 17 home runs in the inning. Ramirez hit just four home runs in his first 25 pitches in that inning.
Hernandez then beat Boehm in a thrilling semifinal playoff after each player hit 14 home runs in their battle for a spot in the final.
Hernandez took first place in the final inning, and looked a bit tired right away. He had hit just four home runs in his first 14 pitches before the break, but he came out strong, hitting five of his next six pitches to finish with 11 homers before his extra inning, in which he added three more homers to reach 14.
With that number of hits, Witt started the game slowly. He missed his first five hits and then called a timeout with four home runs and 15 blocks left. However, a strong performance led him to score 11 points in regulation, matching Hernandez’s record.
But Witt missed his first two shots in the second round, which put him immediately behind his opponents. Although he managed to hit two home runs to give himself a chance, his final attempt was stopped before it hit the center field wall.
Which officially gave Hernandez the title.
Major League Baseball’s weekend will conclude with the All-Star Game on Tuesday. The season then resumes on Friday.
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Teoscar Hernandez is your Home Run Derby hero.
Bobby Witt Jr. needed three home runs in his extra inning to catch Teoscar Hernandez in the final home run derby. He struck out two. Hernandez sealed the crown with 14 home runs in a thrilling finale that Witt failed to reach.
Hernandez hit 11 home runs in regulation, then hit three more in his extra inning to push his tally to 14.
Witt tied it with 11 home runs in regulation, then struck out two in extra time with two outs to go. On his last at-bat, Witt hit a ball deep into center field and there was a chance.
But it bounced off the wall and stayed on the court to secure the title for Hernandez.
Bobby Witt Jr. hit 11 home runs in regulation. He needs three to tie the score and four to beat Teoscar Hernandez in extra time as he moves closer to winning the Derby title.
Teoscar Hernandez puts in a great performance in his first derby match
Teoscar Hernandez was clearly struggling after two innings plus a pinch-hit, but he still managed to send a bunch of big hits to the upper deck in left field in his final outing.
Hernandez has long been one of the game’s most underrated power-hitters, and his performance Monday at Globe Life Field — even if Bobby Witt Jr. could surpass Hernandez’s total of 14 — was a nice reminder that he can still prevail as our champion.
Witt will take over soon…
Teoscar Hernandez adds three home runs in his extra inning to bring his final inning tally to 14. That’s the number Bobby Witt Jr. must beat as he nears the home run derby title.
Another good use of the break by Hernandez. He hit seven home runs in 14 pitches after his start to score 11 points in regulation. Now we move on to extra time.
Hernandez calls a break with 14 pitches and 57 seconds remaining. He hits four home runs.
Teoscar Hernandez is first. Each batter gets 27 pitches in the final game.
Legendary commentator Michael Buffer is on hand to set up the final between Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez. Nice touch.
Legendary boxing commentator Michael Buffer will appear as a guest at the 2024 Home Run Derby to announce the final round match between Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez.🔥 pic.twitter.com/N5VwzSU6PS
— Terrible Announcement (@awfulannouncing) July 16, 2024
Hernandez wins playoff, advances to finals against Witt
We’ve seen a number of these strikes over the years, and they rarely disappoint. After Hernandez and Boehm tied at 14 strikes apiece in the semifinals, each player had three strikes – and only three strikes – to add to their totals.
Hernandez went first and landed two of his three strikes, putting pressure on Boehm to match him… which he didn’t. Boehm deserves credit for playing much better than many expected in this matchup, but Hernandez looks to me like a traditional power hitter who would be fit for a finals showdown with Bobby Witt Jr.
Boom out in a swing match
The last semi-finalist, Alec Bohm, started the match slowly. But after a break, he was able to get things moving and ended up drawing with Teoscar Hernandez on 14 strokes, sending things into an always interesting playoff.
In the end, Bom didn’t have enough to take down Teo, who landed two of his three powerful strikes before Bom landed just one powerful strike. Still, it was a great performance from Bom, who has never been known for his power.
Bobby Witt Jr. vs. Teoscar Hernandez for the Home Run Derby
Teoscar Hernandez will compete with Bobby Witt Jr. in the final. Hernandez hit two home runs in a playoff inning to Alec Bohm’s one to lead with 16 home runs in the semifinal inning.
We have a playoff. Alec Bohm and Teoscar Hernandez are tied at 14 points after Bohm failed to score in the extra inning. The winner is Bobby Witt Jr. for the crown.
Alec Bohm has improved his game since taking a timeout, hitting 11 home runs in his last 23 at-bats to tie Teoscar Hernandez’s record. He needs just one more home run in his extra inning to advance to the finals.
Slow start for Alec Bohm in his last at-bat of the semifinals. He hit three home runs in the break with 23 pitches and 1:41 remaining.
“That’s not a big number,” he said during a break.
it’s not.
Can Hernandez beat Boom in the semifinals?
With the exception of Ozuna, Teoscar Hernandez hit the most home runs of the first inning, with several long balls traveling more than 440 feet and a maximum of 466 feet.
The heavy hitting continued in the second round but without much consistency, and now Hernandez stands on shaky ground, with 14 total strikes as Alec Bohm prepares for what could be a surprise run to the finals if he can surpass Hernandez’s modest total.
Teoscar Hernandez hits a home run in his extra inning to finish with 14. Will that be enough to hold off Alec Bohm? The winner advances to face Bobby Witt Jr. in the home run race.
More here about the much-discussed national anthem.
Teoscar Hernandez found his rhythm after the timeout. He finished the game with 13 home runs in regulation before his extra inning.
Teoscar Hernandez is at the top of the second game of the semifinals and struggles to make a good showing. He hits three home runs in 18 at-bats before the break.
Jose Ramirez exits the tournament in the semi-finals
This was a truly valiant effort from Ramirez, whose raw power may not compare to the rest of the field, but whose ability to consistently send fly balls over the right-court fence was present all the way to his loss to Bobby Witt Jr. in the semifinals.
Most importantly, I’m glad Ramirez — who batted with both hands and was left-handed — advanced to the semifinals so that fans in right field had another chance to catch some big hits from Derby, considering the bulk of the infield is right-handed.
Most importantly: Bobby Witt Jr. advances to the finals, keeping the possibility of a fairytale ending alive for tonight’s event.
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