LOS ANGELES – Washington Nationals player Juan Soto won the 2022 MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby on Monday, beating Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez 19-18 in the final between Dominicans in the final round.
The Home Run Derby took place at Dodger Stadium.
For the first time in its history, the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers received a home run festival with the great competition of ‘Bambinazos’.
Who displayed their power in Los Angeles? Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies, Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals, Pete Alonso, New York Mets, Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves, Corey Seager, Texas Rangers, Julio Rodríguez, Mariners, Juan Soto, Nationals and José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians .
Rookie Julio Rodriguez opened the Derby with 32 homers and advanced to the second round to face two-time reigning champion Pete Alonso, who came from behind to get through the first round. Albert Pujols dramatically defeated Kyle Schwarber in a tiebreaker to advance to the semifinals and face Juan Soto, the Dominican who may be the heir to his glory.
Rookie Rodríguez got to the final by leaving two-time champion Alonso on the road, repeating another round of at least 30 home runs, to add 63, the third best figure in history behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s 91 in 2019 and 74 of Alonso in 2021. He surpassed the 61 of Giancarlo Stanton who hit in 2016.
The final between Dominicans is guaranteed and will be the second in history, following 2010 in which David “Big Papi” Ortiz beat Hanley Ramírez.