Yoenis Cespedes: Home Run Derby AND WWE Champ: pic.twitter.com/JX38Oit9HJ
— SB Nation (@SBNation) July 15, 2014
Rain delayed the start of the Home Run Derby at Target Field on Monday night, but it couldn’t stop last year’s Home Run Derby champion from repeating.
Neither could a couple of local fan favorites. The night didn’t last long for Twins second baseman Brian Dozier or former Twins first baseman Justin Morneau. Both were eliminated in the first round.
While it was a short night, it was still an emotional night, especially for Morneau who was back in Minnesota.
Former #MNTwins slugger Justin Morneau on Target Field reception in #HomeRunDerby: "I was really close to getting some tears in the eyes."
— Andy Greder (@andygreder) July 15, 2014
Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes slugged his way through the bracket to defend his title from last year and take the 2014 championship. Cespedes hit nine home runs during his final round to beat Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier, who finished with just one in the final round.
Cespedes became the first player to win back-to-back Home Run Derbies since Ken Griffey Jr. did it in 1998-99.
On the night, Cespedes hit 30 home runs between the rounds.
The Home Run Derby featured a new format. Hitters were given seven outs instead of 10, and that seemed to make some of the hitters anxious early.
Dozier hit a pair of home runs in his first round, but it wasn’t enough to advance into the semifinals in the American League.
Morneau hit two first-round home runs. That was the same total as Frazier, leading to a swing-off to determine who would advance.
Frazier hit one home run during the swing-off and when Morneau failed to tie it up, he was eliminated.
The highlight of the first round had to be the performance of Jose Bautista. He slugged 10 first round home runs to advance to the finals in the American League.
But Bautista had to wait nearly two hours to swing again, and he was beaten by Cespedes in the American League finals.
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