Teoscar Hernández is the brand new MLB House Run Derby champion.
Hernández beat Kansas Metropolis Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. within the ultimate spherical of the House Run Derby on Monday at Globe Life Area in Arlington, Texas — after a really fascinating rendition of the nationwide anthem. Hernández simply barely beat Witt within the ultimate spherical as Witt’s final try, which might’ve tied Hernández, got here up painfully quick.
Hernández is the primary Los Angeles Dodgers participant to win the House Run Derby and the seventh Dominican-born participant to win the occasion. His victory earned him a $1 million bonus, too.
The Derby had just a few notable modifications this 12 months, which sped the occasion up only a bit. All eight gamers hit within the first spherical, after which the highest 4 performers — Hernández, Witt, Alec Bohm and José Ramírez — superior to a bracket-style ultimate 4. Pete Alonso, who was searching for his third Derby win, Adolis Garcia, Gunnar Henderson and Marcell Ozuna had been eradicated within the opening spherical.
Witt beat Ramírez in his semifinal battle by placing up 17 residence runs within the spherical. Ramírez hit simply 4 residence runs in his first 25 pitches in that spherical.
Hernández then beat Bohm in an exciting semifinal swing-off after every participant hit 14 residence runs of their battle for a spot within the ultimate.
Hernández went first within the championship spherical, and he appeared a bit gassed immediately. He hit solely 4 residence runs in his first 14 pitches earlier than his timeout, however he got here out firing and drilled 5 of his subsequent six out of the park to complete with 11 residence runs earlier than his bonus spherical, through which he added three extra homer to get to 14.
With that quantity to beat, Witt additionally got here out gradual. He missed his first 5 hits after which referred to as his timeout with solely 4 residence runs and 15 pitches left. Nonetheless, a robust end pushed him to 11 in regulation, matching Hernández’s mark.
However Witt missed his first two photographs within the bonus spherical, which put him behind instantly. Though he hit two residence runs to present himself an opportunity, his final try stopped simply shy of the center-field wall.
That formally gave Hernández the title.
MLB’s All-Star weekend will conclude with the All-Star Sport on Tuesday. The season will then choose again up on Friday.
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Teoscar Hernández is your House Run Derby champion
Bobby Witt Jr. wanted three residence runs in his bonus spherical to catch Teoscar Hernández within the House Run Derby ultimate. He hit two. Hernández secured the crown with 14 residence runs in an exciting ultimate that noticed Witt come up simply quick.
Hernandez tallied 11 residence runs in regulation, then hit three extra in his bonus spherical to set the quantity at 14.
Witt matched him with 11 residence runs in regulation, then hit two within the bonus spherical with two outs remaining. On his ultimate out, Witt hit a ball to deep middle discipline that had an opportunity.
Nevertheless it bounced off the wall and stayed within the park to safe the title for Hernández.
Bobby Witt Jr. has 11 residence runs in regulation. He wants three to tie and 4 to beat Teoscar Hernández in his bonus spherical with the Derby crown on the road.
Teoscar Hernández delivers in first Derby efficiency
It’s clear Teoscar Hernández was laboring after two rounds plus a swing-off, however he nonetheless managed to ship a wholesome variety of homers into the higher deck in left discipline in his ultimate spherical.
Hernández has lengthy been one of many extra underrated energy hitters within the recreation, and his exhibiting Monday at Globe Life Area — even when Bobby Witt Jr. is ready to surpass Hernández’s whole of 14 — was a pleasant reminder of that. He might nonetheless prevail as our champion.
Witt will step in shortly …
Teoscar Hernández provides three residence runs in his bonus spherical to lift his final-round tally to 14. That is the quantity for Bobby Witt Jr. to beat with the House Run Derby crown on the road.
One other good use of a timeout by Hernández. He hit seven residence runs in 14 pitches after his break to tally 11 in regulation. On to the bonus spherical.
Hernández takes a timeout with 14 pitches and 57 seconds left. He has 4 residence runs.
Teoscar Hernández is up first. Every batter will get 27 pitches within the ultimate.
Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer is on the decision to arrange the ultimate between Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernández. Good contact.
Legendary boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer makes a visitor look on the 2024 House Run Derby to introduce the championship spherical matchup of Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernández.🔥 pic.twitter.com/N5VwzSU6PS
— Terrible Asserting (@awfulannouncing) July 16, 2024
Hernández wins swing-off, advances to finals vs. Witt
A swing-off! We’ve seen a handful of those through the years, they usually not often disappoint. After Hernández and Bohm tied at 14 apiece within the semifinals, every participant was given three swings — and three swings solely — so as to add to his whole.
Hernández went first and homered on two of his three swings, placing the stress on Bohm to match … which he didn’t. Credit score to Bohm for exhibiting out way over many anticipated on this occasion, however Hernández does strike me as a extra conventional energy hitter befitting a finals matchup with Bobby Witt Jr.
Bohm goes out in swing-off
The ultimate contestant of the semifinal, Alec Bohm, began slowly. However after a timeout, he obtained issues rolling and ended up tying Teoscar Hernández’s 14 homers, sending issues to the at all times intriguing swing-off.
Ultimately, Bohm did not have sufficient to take down Teo, who homered on two of his three swings earlier than Bohm obtained only one swing-off dinger. Nonetheless, this was a formidable exhibiting from Bohm, who has by no means been recognized for his energy.
Bobby Witt Jr. vs. Teoscar Hernández for House Run Derby crown
It is Teoscar Hernández vs. Bobby Witt Jr. within the finals. Hernández hit two residence runs in a swing-off to Alec Bohm’s one to advance with 16 residence runs within the semifinal spherical.
We’ve got a swing-off. Alec Bohm and Teoscar Hernández are tied at 14 after Bohm didn’t hit a house run within the bonus spherical. Winner will get Bobby Witt Jr. for the crown.
Alec Bohm turned it up after his timeout. 11 residence runs in his ultimate 23 swings to tie Teoscar Hernández. He wants only one in his bonus spherical to advance to the finals.
A gradual begin for Alec Bohm within the final at-bat of the semifinals. He has three residence runs at his timeout with 23 pitches and 1:41 remaining.
“That is not very many,” he mentioned throughout his break.
It is not.
Can Hernández maintain off Bohm within the semis?
Exterior of Ozuna, it was Teoscar Hernández who launched probably the most majestic residence runs of the primary spherical, with a number of lengthy balls touring in extra of 440 toes and a max of 466.
The moon photographs continued in Spherical 2 however with out as a lot consistency, and Hernández is now on shaky floor, with 14 whole homers as Alec Bohm gears up for what might be fairly a shocking run to the finals if he can surpass Hernandez’s modest whole.
Teoscar Hernández provides one residence run in his bonus spherical to complete with 14. Is it sufficient to fend off Alec Bohm? The winner advances to tackle Bobby Witt Jr. for the House Run Derby crown.
Extra right here on the much-discussed nationwide anthem.
Teoscar Hernández discovered his rhythm after his timeout. Finishes with 13 residence runs in regulation earlier than his bonus spherical.
Teoscar Hernández is up first within the second semifinal matchup and struggling to star. Three residence runs in 18 swings earlier than his timeout.
José Ramírez bows out within the semis
A very valiant effort from Ramirez, whose uncooked energy may not remotely measure as much as that of the remainder of the sector however whose means to constantly deposit pulled fly balls simply over the right-field fence was on show all the way in which till he bowed out towards Bobby Witt Jr. within the semifinals.
Most significantly, I’m glad Ramirez — a switch-hitter who was batting lefty — superior to the semis in order that the followers sitting in proper discipline had one other likelihood to snag some Derby dingers, contemplating that the majority of the sector is swinging righty.
Extra importantly: Bobby Witt Jr. advances to the finals, which retains the opportunity of a storybook ending to tonight’s occasion in play.
