2023 Home Run Derby: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. outlasts Randy Arozarena for historic win
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby Monday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, defeating Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena in the Finals.
Guerrero Jr. held on to win after hitting 25 home runs in the Finals, while Arozarena came one short, hitting 24. With the win, Guerrero Jr. and his father, National Baseball Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, become the first father-son duo to win the Home Run Derby. The elder Guerrero claimed victory in the 2007 Home Run Derby at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
“PROUD and LOVE FOR MY SON Congratulation Vlad Jr!” Guerrero tweeted.
Guerrero Jr. appeared in his first Home Run Derby since 2019 when he mashed a record 91 home runs. He defeated Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, 26-11, in Round 1. In Round 2, he took down the fan-favorite in Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez. Rodríguez set the overall round record with 41 home runs in Round 1. He struggled to keep the same pace in Round 2, hitting 20 while Guerrero Jr. topped him with 21.
ESPN botches graphic of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Guerrero Jr.’s moment of glory was briefly spoiled due to a botched graphic from ESPN. After Guerrero Jr.’s victory, in which he mashed 25 home runs to Arozarena’s 24 in the Finals, the network put up a graphic which read, “2nd Cuban-born HR Derby champion (Yoenis Céspedes).” Guerrero Jr. was born in Montreal and is of Dominican descent.
MLB fans took notice of the botch, and took to Twitter to chime in with their thoughts.
“To make it even worse- ESPN spent a lot of the broadcast early on talking about the 3 Cuban Born players- Randy, Luis [Robert Jr.], & Adolis [García] just to fumble this at the end,” Zac Blobner of 95.3 WDAE tweeted.
The 24-year-old is an All-Star for the third-straight season after a productive first half with the Blue Jays. Guerrero Jr. is slashing .274/.344/.443 with 13 home runs and 58 RBIs in 343 at-bats.