It seems like every couple of years the home run derby format changes, and this year was no different. After almost an hour delay the new look bracket format got started. With the new rules, the top three sluggers from each league advanced to the next rounds where they battle head-to-head. With this new format an AL vs. NL final was also guaranteed.
Round One
With the New format, of seven outs instead of ten, getting on a roll early became vital. After Todd Fraizer (2), Brian Dozier (2), and Troy Tulowitzki (4) struggled to get going early, AL captain, Jose Bautista cruised hitting five straight and ten total to earn a second round bye in the AL. NL favorite also got going early and was able to earn the NL bye after six home runs.
Other highlights of the first round included Yasiel Puig getting shutout and two swing-offs. The first swing-off was in the National League between Todd Fraizer and former Twin Justin Morneau. Fraizer won by homering once while Morneau did not get close to the wall on his three swings. The other swing-off was between A’s teammates Josh Donaldson and Yoenis Cespedes. Although Donaldson homered, Cespedes dominated crushing the first to pitches he saw to advance.
After it was all said and done, hometown favorites Brian Dozier and Justin Morneau were eliminated along with Josh Donaldson and Yasiel Puig.
Round Two
Fraizer Vs. Tulowitzki
After struggling at the start, Todd Frazier bat heated up as he went on. He was able to cruise into round three by hitting six compared to Tulowitzki’s two. Setting up a third round match-up of Fraizer Vs. Stanton.
Cespedes Vs. Jones
After hitting four out in his first five outs, Cespedes was able to hit five more in the next two to finish round two with nine. Adam Jones then homered on the first pitch he saw, but hit just two more in the rest of the round to set up a match-up of Cespedes Vs. Bautista.
Round Three
Fraizer Vs. Stanton
Fraizer again struggled to get going early and was not able to find power late. He hit just one longball making it easy for Stanton to advance to the finals. But, almost miraculously Fraizer advanced again as Stanton was shutout after a long layoff and Frazier advanced. Stanton made it interesting on his fifth out when he hit one off the top of the wall for a close call, but in all he failed to take one deep. It looked to be destiny for Fraizer to win the whole thing.
Cespedes Vs. Bautista
Defending champion got things going early by launching the first pitch he saw 358 feet and out. During the rest of the round, he swung like a man who was eager to defend his title. He homered six more times to finish with seven overall. Jose Bautista took the layoff much better than Stanton as he made things interesting, but couldn’t get enough as he finished with four homers.
Finals
Cespedes Vs. Fraizer
The finals matching featured the mam of destiny in Frazier vs. the defending champ in Cespedes. To begin the round Cespedes started on fire. He appeared to just be getting better as the round advanced as he hit moonshot after moonshot, saving his best round for last. In all, Cespedes homered nine times to put the pressure on Fraizer. But Fraizer could not live up to the show that Cespedes put on as he hit just one home run. Cespedes awesome display of power earned him his second consecutive home run derby title matching Ken Griffey Jr. as the only one two win back to back titles.
Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson, USA TODAY Sports