Teoscar Hernández proves he belongs: 6 takeaways from 2024 House Run Derby

ARLINGTON, Texas — One yr after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made historical past by becoming a member of his father as a House Run Derby champion, the youthful Guerrero was not within the area of opponents to defend his crown. However he was on the sector. 

So was one other key character from the household’s feat.

Seventeen years in the past, Dino Ebel threw to the elder Guerrero as he gained the House Run Derby in 2007. On Monday at Globe Life Area in Texas, Ebel was victorious on the mound once more because the Dodgers third-base coach and batting observe extraordinaire helped Teoscar Hernández develop into the primary Dodgers slugger to win the derby. 

Off to the facet, a well-recognized face occurred within the revelry. 

As Hernández celebrated his victory, eking out the 14-13 win within the ultimate spherical in opposition to Bobby Witt Jr. when the latter’s potential derby-tying blast clanked off the underside of the wall in middle area, Vlad Jr. positioned the 2024 House Run Derby champion chain across the neck of his former Toronto teammate whereas donning Hernández’s previous Blue Jays jersey. 

“That was one of many largest surprises tonight, what he did,” Hernández stated. 

With the help of each former and present teammates, Hernández bested a area of potential MVPs. 

Whereas different stars had been invited early to this yr’s House Run Derby area, Hernández needed to foyer to hitch the sector. He was the final contestant to be introduced. 

He was additionally the final one standing. 

Ebel discovered a rhythm with Hernández by watching his participant’s shoulders. Once they dropped, Ebel knew Hernández was prepared for the pitch. 

Within the first spherical, Hernández instructed Ebel he needed the ball down the center or middle-up. 

“After we superior, he stated, ‘Dino, throw it down the center and let me do my factor,'” Ebel relayed. 

Hernández had all the time needed to take part within the derby however did not get the invite in his All-Star season in Toronto in 2021. Given his first alternative, he did not let it go to waste. 

“I am right here,” Hernández stated confidently, simply hours after studying he would even be an All-Star starter as properly, filling in at middle area for the injured Fernando Tatis Jr., “and I am as proficient as all these guys over there.”

Listed below are some takeaways from the occasion: 

The brand new bonus interval was a game-changer 

Among the many new guidelines featured on this yr’s derby was an replace to the bonus spherical that Hernández used to his benefit. 

As an alternative of an computerized 30 seconds of additional time, the spherical is now untimed. Gamers get three outs to hit as many homers as they’ll, and a house run of at the very least 425 toes inside that point provides a fourth out. Hernández hit six house runs within the first bonus spherical and wanted all of them to advance by one house run over hometown hero Adolis García. 

“That is my fourth (derby),” Ebel stated, “and for me, that is the very best for the gamers. Prior to now, they get all gassed out.” 

WE HAVE A SWING-OFF 

After advancing by one house run within the first spherical, Hernández was tied with Alec Bohm at 14 house runs apiece within the semifinal. 

With the brand new guidelines, ties after the second and third rounds are decided by a swing-off wherein gamers get three swings to find out the winner. Hernández gained the swing-off two homers to at least one to advance to the ultimate. 

“I feel the brand new format’s nice, not only for individuals however for followers as properly as a result of it is mixing the brand new and previous model of derby,” Pete Alonso stated. 

Had Witt’s ultimate fly ball within the ultimate gone out — the suspense was one thing to behold because the ball sailed by way of the air — there would have been one other swing-off.  

However the deep drive got here up simply quick in essentially the most fascinating spherical of the occasion. 

One hometown star falls toes quick 

García, the host Rangers consultant, was bested within the first spherical. However there was one other hometown star that made all of it the best way to the finals. 

Witt grew up in close by Colleyville — “My home, I mapped it out at the moment, is 20 minutes away from right here,” he stated earlier than the occasion — and had a bevy of household and associates in attendance. 

Six years after successful the 2018 Excessive College House Run Derby, he got here simply toes in need of having a possibility to win the major-league competitors and had the gang behind him within the ultimate spherical. Like Hernández with the Dodgers, Witt would have been the primary Royal to win the occasion. 

Coming into the occasion, he had the longest homer (468 toes), the longest common house run distance (417.9 toes) and essentially the most no-doubt homers (12) of anybody within the area this season. 

Energy outage? 

Final yr, Julio Rodríguez set a derby document with 41 homers within the opening spherical. This yr, nobody hit greater than 21 homers in a single spherical. The everyday offensive surroundings at Globe Life Area, the place there have been extra house runs hit within the common season final yr than at every other venue, didn’t play out. 

Actually, the brand new guidelines performed a job. This yr, whereas the rounds had been nonetheless timed, gamers may solely see a most of 40 pitches per spherical, which penalized them for taking pitches and restricted the variety of swings they might sometimes get. Subsequent yr, maybe extra star energy will convey extra precise energy.

Solely three of the 13 major-leaguers with at the very least 20 homers this season participated within the derby. Of the ten gamers to hit a homer at the very least 450 toes this yr, Witt is the one one who took half within the occasion. 

Shohei Ohtani stated he is concerned about collaborating and would possibly do it subsequent yr. He was deterred this yr as he continues his elbow restoration in hopes of pitching subsequent season. 

The longest blast? 

That belonged to Marcell Ozuna, who hit one 473 toes within the first spherical, making it the longest house run hit at Globe Life Area by one foot. Mike Trout (April 14, 2022) and Seth Brown (July 10, 2021) every hit 472-foot blasts throughout regular-season competitors. 

Ozuna, nevertheless, was eradicated after hitting 16 house runs within the first spherical. 

Is that this it for derby common Alonso? 

Nobody loves the occasion fairly just like the Polar Bear, however the occasion didn’t love him again Monday. Solely Gunnar Henderson hit fewer than Alonso’s 12 house runs within the first spherical, as each gamers had been eradicated early. 

It was the second straight first-round exit and third straight defeat for Alonso, the 2019 and 2021 champion who’s the one participant to compete in 5 consecutive derbies.

Even in defeat, Alonso referred to as it a blessing to get the chance and stated he nonetheless has “a blast” competing within the occasion. 

“That is an occasion that I’ve actually admired since i used to be a child,” Alonso stated. “I am mainly doing it for my 7- and 8-year-old self.”

Is he prepared to do it once more? That is to be decided. 

“It is tremendous enjoyable, and I really like competing on this,” he stated. 

Rowan Kavner is an MLB author for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand lined the L.A. Dodgers, L.A. Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved again to the West Coast in 2014. Comply with him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

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