New York Mets rookie Pete Alonso bested Toronto Blue Jays rookie Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. to win the 2019 MLB Home Run Derby tonight in Cleveland.
Although Vlady, Jr. enjoyed much of the spotlight hitting 91 home runs overall, he faded in the final round and gave Mets fans the only thing they will probably have to cheer about for the rest of the season. The younger Guerrero hit 29 home runs in the first round breaking Josh Hamilton's single round record of 28 home runs in the 2008 Derby at old Yankee Stadium. Granted, the ball is juiced and Guerrero wasn't limited to 10 outs. Still, Vlady, Jr. hit some mammoth shots.
Vlady, Jr. did even better in the second round hitting 40 home runs in the second round and he needed everyone of them as he and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson needed three tiebreakers to settle the score.
Needless to say, Vlady, Jr. didn't have as much oomph in the final round, but he still managed 22 home runs. But Alonso would prevail and managed to win over the crowd after eliminating hometown favorite Carlos Santana in the first round.
I'm not generally a fan of the Home Run Derby, but Alonso and Guerrero, Jr. are two of the game's best young Ambassadors and if they are the face of the sport in the next decade or so then baseball will be in good hands however the idiots might run the game into the ground.
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