HOME RUN DERBY, THE REPEAT, & I LOVE ALL-STAR BREAK

It's here! IT'S HERE! I cannot begin to explain how much I love All Star Weekend. It makes me all giddy, like a kid on Christmas morning. Except, instead of presents, I get home runs. Actually, that's just as good. Yay, Home Runs!

This year brought us an American League team captained by Jose Bautista. Adam Jones, Brian Dozier, Josh Donaldson join him, along with last years champion Yoenis Cespedes. The National league was made up of captain Troy Tulowitzki, Yasiel Puig, Giancarlo Stanton, Todd Frazier, and Justin Morneau. Donaldson, and Tulowitzki both have 20 homers this season, so far.

I wrote last month about the MLB & THE HOME RUN DERBY BRACKETS. It explained that each team would have 5 batters. Top three hitters for each team move onto the second round, with the top hitter getting a BYE in the second round.

In the first round, Bautista hit an impressive 10 home runs earning himself that BYE. But Stanton's 430 foot home run was the most impressive to me. It nearly cleared the stadium. Morneau, who got a warm welcome at Target Field, only hit 2 homers, tying with Frazier in the first round. Frazier beat him in the swing off, advancing into the second round. Donaldson and Cespedes also went into a swing off. Cespedes won with two homers. We also got another chance to watch Robinson Cano's father, Jose Cano pitching in a home run derby. He pitched to Puig. Unfortunately, he couldn't help Puig hit a single homer.

Cespedes gained momentum as the derby progressed. He went on to face Bautista in the third round who only hit 4 homers, after a spectacular 10 homers in the first round. It wasn't enough to beat Cespedes though. In the final round, Cespedes faced Frazier. Cespedes batted first hitting 9 homers. Unfortunately, knowing what he was up against, did not work in Frazier's favor, who only hit 1 homer in the final. Cespedes went on to be the first back to back Home Run Derby winner since 1998-1999, when Ken Griffey, Jr won.

Congratulations to 2014 Home Run Derby King, Yoenis Cespedes! Up next is the All Star Game and the last chance to watch Derek Jeter play in the mid-summer classic. Let's go, American League.

--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer 
Twitter: @e_morales1804

 
  

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