MLB All-Stars, including David Ortiz, enjoying the view at the Home Run Derby. (Getty)
The Home Run Derby is known for excitement, but this year was even better than advertised. The home runs flew harder and further than ever. Players impressed and moved on to further rounds; some players impressed and it still wasn’t good enough. The power you hope to see was there in a big way, with few disappointments. The final round was a battle between the only two participants not in the All-Star Game: Giancarlo Stanton and Todd Frazier.
Ultimately, Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins was victorious, using his absurd raw power to hit 20 or more home runs in two of the three rounds, including 20 in the final round. He defeated 2015’s Derby champion Todd Frazier, who gave a valiant effort but just could not compete with the amazing display Stanton put on for the crowd.
Stanton was seen as an early favorite, and certainly played as good as advertised, hitting 24 home runs in the first round and following it up with 17 home runs in the second round, never facing much adversity in his trip to the final round. Robinson Cano never came close, and Mark Trumbo couldn’t put him away despite a solid showing.
Todd Frazier, meanwhile, had to come back against solid totals from his first round opponent, Carlos Gonzalez, and his second round opponent, Adam Duvall. Each time a sudden hot streak had him crushing consecutive home runs until a final one advanced him to the next round.
Despite not making the final round, Trumbo and Duvall were real highlights of the Derby, with Trumbo showing off incredible power and crushing some absolute bombs. Duvall, meanwhile, looked to be the quiet killer in the Home Run Derby, consistently going under the radar. He hit 11 home runs in the first round and 15 in the second round.
Players in the first round impressed as well. In particular, Corey Seager, rookie shortstop for the Dodgers, made quite a name for himself opening up the Home Run Derby with 15 home runs. It would’ve been good enough had he not been facing Trumbo, the league leader in home runs. Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies also put up a respectable total of 12 in his first round, though he was eliminated by Frazier.
Hometown boy Wil Myers did his best to represent the Padres at Petco Park, but hit just 10 home runs and was easily defeated by Duvall. Robinson Cano, perhaps already defeated by Giancarlo Stanton’s 24 first round home run total, hit just 7. Ultimately, the night was Stanton’s night, hitting the most home runs of all players in each round and setting a record for most home runs hit in a single Home Run Derby.
Stanton won his first Home Run Derby in his second appearance. Frazier was looking for his second consecutive Home Run Derby championship.