Guerrero Jr. shatters records in Home Run Derby but Alonso takes crown
Jul 8, 2019, 8:48 PM | Updated: 8:59 pm
(Twitter photos/@MLB)
Mets first baseman Pete Alonso may be taking the hardware with him back to New York, but Vlad Guerrero Jr. is who captured eyeballs during Monday night’s Home Run Derby at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
The 20-year-old was already set to become the youngest participant in Home Run Derby history upon stepping up to the plate.
But it’s what he did at the plate that caught everyone’s attention.
Guerrero Jr. hit a grand total of 91 home runs on Monday night, shattering Giancarlo Stanton ‘s record of 61 for the most home runs in a single Home Run Derby.
The Montreal-born third baseman started off the night with an astounding 29 home runs in the opening round, surpassing Josh Hamilton’s 28 in 2008 for the most in any single round in the history of the competition.
29 homers in the first round for Vlad Guerrero Jr.
That's a #HRDerby record for a single round 💪 pic.twitter.com/hyN1jLp1Ub
— ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2019
However, the youngster wasn’t done yet, as Guerrero Jr. proceeded to hit another 29 home runs in the second round and added 11 more in three swing-offs with semifinal opponent Joc Pederson.
UNREAL!
Vlad Jr. hits another 29 homers in the second round 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EnO0g7AhlY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 9, 2019
Unfortunately for the son of Hall-of-Famer and 2007 Home Run Derby winner Vlad Guerrero Sr., Alonso was able to outslug him 23-22 in the final round to take the 2019 crown.
PETE ALONSO HAS DONE IT!
He hit 57 home runs to win the 2019 #HRDerby 🏆 pic.twitter.com/kXjWKNmZsO
— ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2019