Hernández become 1st Dodger to win HR Derby crown

Hernández become 1st Dodger to win HR Derby crown

Steve Walter: When the final swing of the 2024 Home Run Derby sent a ball soaring into the night at Globe Life Field, the tension was palpable. Bobby Witt Jr. narrowed his eyes, and Teoscar Hernández held his breath. What had been a relatively unremarkable Derby was now racing towards a dramatic finish, hinging on mere feet.

The ball from Witt’s bat struck the base of the center-field fence, prompting a sigh of disappointment from him and a triumphant celebration from Hernández. In a nail-biting final, Hernández edged out Witt by a single home run, 14 to 13, just as he had in the semifinals.

The 31-year-old Hernández, a beloved teammate and consistent power hitter, became the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win the Derby. He took home a $1 million prize, a “DERBY CHAMP” medallion, and the pride of outmatching one of baseball’s brightest young stars swing for swing.

Teoscar Hernández: “It doesn’t matter who I’m going against. I’m going to bet on myself. People maybe underestimate me, but I’m as talented as all those guys over there. They might be younger, but same talent.”

Witt, the Kansas City Royals shortstop, had seemed destined for another Derby title after winning the High School Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game six years ago. In the event’s new format, players faced a maximum of 40 pitches over three minutes, then hit as many home runs as possible before missing three in a bonus round. The final round reduced the time to two minutes with 27 pitches.

Participating in his first Derby, Hernández became the seventh player from the Dominican Republic to win. He built a strong advantage in his final round, while Witt struggled at the start. By the end, Witt had hit 11 home runs and earned an extra out by hitting a ball over 425 feet.

Teoscar Hernández: “I was nervous, especially on the last swing.”

With his brother-in-law, former Chicago Cubs reliever James Russell, pitching to him, Witt sent a ball toward center field. Though traditionally a dead zone for home runs, it looked promising enough to excite the 38,578 fans in attendance. But it fell short.

Bobby Witt Jr.: “I thought I had a chance when I hit it, but it was just a little bit too high.”

Hernández celebrated with his former teammate and 2023 Derby champion, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who wore Hernández’s old Toronto Blue Jays jersey. Hernández joined the Dodgers this winter, bringing his powerful swing to a lineup featuring Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman.

Hernández will start in center field for the National League on Tuesday. Despite a field lacking star power from past Derbies, his performance stood out. He barely advanced to the semifinals, finishing behind Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm, Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez, and Witt in the first round. Two-time champion Pete Alonso and others were eliminated early.

In the semifinals, Hernández and Bohm tied, leading to a three-swing overtime. Hernández homered on his second and third swings, while Bohm fell short.

Dodgers Coach Dino Ebel: “I do this every day. My job is to get lit up in batting practice.”

Awaiting Hernández was Witt, who admired his well-rounded hitting abilities.

Bobby Witt Jr.: “I knew every time he played he’s got crazy juice to all parts of the field.”

On a night with no exceptionally long home runs, the thrilling end kept everyone on edge and hinted at a potential return for Guerrero next year.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: “If Teoscar does it, I’m in.”