Teoscar Hernandez has officially written his name in the history books, and in doing so, has inked a new chapter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, claiming the 20221 MLB Home Run Derby crown. In a nail-biter of a finish, Hernandez eked out a victory against Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. with a one-homer margin, as detailed in a report by NBC Philadelphia. Hernandez hammered a solid 14 homers, forcing Witt Jr., who followed, to come up just one short with 13, the tension riding on his final attempt that didn’t quite clear the fences.
Before Hernandez's triumph, Dodgers players had swung into Derby's spotlight a total of 13 times, with greats like Mike Piazza, who notably went homer-less in his '93 and '94 Derby appearances, never managing to clinch the win. Yet, Hernandez's prowess has finally shattered the Dodgers' Derby jinx, illustrating a stat shared by MLB.com, marking them as the 21st team to boast a Home Run Derby champion. Meanwhile, the Astros, Braves, Cardinals, Guardians, Padres, Pirates, Rays, Rockies, and Royals, remain in wait for their Derby hero.
This Derby may have been Hernandez's crowning achievement, but it wasn’t without its own set of noteworthy performances. Phillies’ Alec Bohm and José Ramírez both led the opening round with 21 homers each, as 6abc.com notes, showcasing their own impressive power at bat. The contest, held under the closed retractable roof of Globe Life Park to beat the Texas heat, eschewed last year’s single-elimination bracket for a first round that advanced the top four hitters, lending a bracket-style battle to the semi-finals. The new structure couldn't help New York Mets' Pete Alonso in his attempt to become a three-time derby champion, as he fell short in the initial round with 12 homers.
Hernandez also carries the honor of being the seventh Dominican-born Derby king, a storied lineage that includes the likes of Juan Soto, Robinson Cano, and the legendary David Ortiz as conveyed by MLB.com. His victory elevates the Dominican Republic's standing, in the hallowed halls of Derby history, a testament to the island's deep baseball roots and enduring talent. It also entails Hernandez separating himself from his former Blue Jays teammate, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., himself a part of the first father-son Derby-winning combo, pivoting away from the shadow of former derby champs to take center stage in his own right.
