ARLINGTON (Texas) (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Teoscar Hernandez became the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night at Globe Life Field.
Hernandez edged Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. in the final, clubbing 14 homers to Witt’s 13. It came down to the wire, as Witt nearly tied things up when he sent a deep fly ball to left-center, but it didn’t end up clearing the wall.
Hernandez was the 11th different player in Dodgers history to compete in the event. He advanced out of the opening round with 19 home runs, then defeated the Philadelphia Phillies’ Alec Bohm in a three-swing swing-off in the semifinals.
Bohm and Hernandez had each hit 14 long balls to force the swing-off.
In the final, Hernandez went first and hit 11 home runs during regulation. He added three more in the bonus round.
Witt had 11 home runs in regulation and was down to his final out of the bonus session when he cranked his 12th home run, which traveled 450 feet and bought him an additional out. He added one more homer before his rally fell just short.
–Drew Davison, Field Level Media