MLB Home Run Derby - Vladimir Guerrero Wins

Monday night saw the annual MLB Home Run Derby take place, but home run king Barry Bonds elected to sit this one out. That meant the field was wide open, and men like Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols were eager to claim the trophy.

Round One

The competition started slowly, with the first-place leaders after one round having just five homers each. Minnesota’s Justin Morneau, Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder, Detroit’s Magglio Ordonez and defending champ Ryan Howard were all eliminated in the first round.

Round Two

In round two, Toronto’s Alex Rios hit five consecutive homers to finish with 17 solo blasts over the first two rounds. Colorado’s Matt Holliday was eliminated when Vladimir Guerrero knocked nine balls over the fence in the second round. Albert Pujols, who has recently endured a dry spell when it comes to home runs, finished just one run shy of the finals.

The Finals

In the finals, Alex Rios seemed to tire a bit, managing just two more homers to finish with 19 total. Guerrero only needed three to win the event, and he homered on the first pitch. He finished the competition off with three swings to spare.

For more baseball articles, check out the following:

Rosters for MLB’s All Star Game

Odds for Barry Bonds’ Home Run Chase

MLB Home Run Derby - Vladimir Guerrero Wins