Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Clinches Victory: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., representing the Toronto Blue Jays, emerged victorious in the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby, narrowly defeating Randy Arozarena in an exciting competition held at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. This marked Guerrero’s first-ever win in the Home Run Derby.
Guerrero took the plate first in the final round, having just secured a win in the semifinals. His early turn allowed Arozarena some additional rest before his own performance. Guerrero showcased his power by hitting 20 home runs before earning a 60-second bonus. He concluded the final round with a total of 25 impressive dingers.
Arozarena stepped up to bat after Guerrero’s round. The Tampa Bay Rays slugger struggled to find his rhythm, hitting his first home run about 20 seconds into his turn. With only nine home runs in hand and 1:01 left on the clock, Arozarena called for a timeout. Although he couldn’t secure a bonus time by hitting a homer over 440 feet, he managed to come within four home runs of Guerrero before the 30-second bonus time commenced. However, Arozarena fell short, finishing with a final tally of 23 home runs.
Ultimately, Guerrero held on to claim victory in the Home Run Derby.
In the semifinals, Arozarena faced off against Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. Arozarena outperformed Robert with a score of 35-25, advancing to the final round against Guerrero.
Guerrero had previously defeated Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners, last year’s runner-up, in a closely contested matchup. Guerrero secured a 21-20 win over Rodriguez. Notably, Guerrero came close to winning the event in 2019 but was ultimately bested in the finals by New York Mets star Pete Alonso.
With this win, Guerrero and his father, Vladimir Guerrero, have become the first father-son duo to win the Home Run Derby. The elder Guerrero previously claimed victory in 2007.
It’s worth mentioning that Juan Soto of the San Diego Padres, the reigning champion, did not participate in this year’s competition.
Now, the attention of these super sluggers will shift to the upcoming MLB All-Star Game, scheduled to air on FOX at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday night. The American League will be led by New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, while the National League will be represented by Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks on the mound.
