In an electrifying Home Run Derby on Monday night at Globe Life Field, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez narrowly defeated Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., 14 home runs to 13, in the final round. Witt nearly tied the match during the bonus round, but his deep fly to left-center field hit the bottom of the wall, securing Hernandez’s victory.
This victory made Hernandez the first Dodgers player to win the Home Run Derby. “If I have to bet, it doesn’t matter who I’m going against, I’m going to bet on myself,” Hernandez said. “People maybe underestimate me, but I have the same talent as all those guys. They might be younger, but it’s the same talent.”
Competing in his first Derby, Hernandez accumulated a total of 49 home runs throughout the event, while Witt, also a first-time competitor, tallied 50. Witt, who previously won the High School Home Run Derby during the 2018 All-Star festivities in Washington, aimed to be the first Royals player to win the Derby. He enjoyed strong local support, having attended high school at Colleyville Heritage, just 15 miles north of Arlington.
“That was fun. The Texas-sized crowd made it a lot of fun,” Witt said. “To make it to the finals was awesome. Teoscar put on a great show.”
Hernandez became the 11th Dodgers player to compete in the event. He advanced from the opening round with 19 home runs and then defeated Philadelphia Phillies’ Alec Bohm in a thrilling three-swing swing-off in the semifinals after both had hit 14 home runs.
In the final, Hernandez hit 11 home runs in regulation and added three more in the bonus round. Witt also hit 11 home runs in regulation and managed to crank his 12th homer, which traveled 450 feet, granting him an additional out. He hit one more homer before falling just short.
“I just was trying to blow on it or something,” Witt said about his final swing.
Several top contenders exited the Derby earlier than expected. Texas Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia, the hometown favorite, narrowly missed advancing from the opening round with 18 home runs. Two-time winner Pete Alonso of the New York Mets finished with just 12 home runs in the first round, while Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles, the top home run hitter in the field, hit 11. Atlanta Braves’ designated hitter Marcell Ozuna also exited in the first round after hitting 16 home runs.
“Obviously in it to win it, but it’s always really fun out there,” Alonso said. “I had a blast and it’s such a blessing to be out here and perform.”
This year’s Derby format featured three-minute rounds in the opening and semifinal rounds, with each batter allowed up to 40 swings. In the bonus round, batters received three “outs” for any swing that didn’t result in a home run, with an additional out granted for any home run traveling at least 425 feet. In the final, batters had two minutes or 27 swings, with the same bonus period rules applying.
