Will the Nationals exchange Juan Soto before the MLB change deadline?
Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports breaks down the commercial market of Washington Nationals All-Star Juan Soto.
USA TODAY
Everyone digs the long ball.
The Major League Baseball 2022 Home Run Derby is Monday night in Los Angeles, on the eve of the 92nd All-Star Game. This year’s derby features some of baseball’s best hitters, including two-time defending champion Pete Alonso, who would be the first player in history to win three competitions in a row.
Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies, who leads the National League with 29 home runs at halftime, is the No. 1 seed in the overall standings and faces Albert Pujols, 42, in the first round. Pujols, playing his last season, has participated in the derby four times throughout his career: 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2015.
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Keep it here all night for live coverage of the Home Run Derby:
Number 1 Kyle Schwarber (Phillies) vs. number 8 Albert Pujols (Cardinals)
- Hills – 13 HR – 434 feet longer: In his last Home Run Derby, the 42-year-old received the love of fans and teammates, who all came to hug him before bonus time .
- Schwarber – 13 HR – 470 feet longer: The 2018 runner-up struggled throughout his round and was unable to overcome the fence to the winner in his minute of extra time. We will make a tie!
- PUJOLS WINS TIEBREAKER, 20–19: Pujols found a rhythm in the extra round of one minute while Schwarber warmed up too late. What a disgust!
No. 4. Juan Soto (Nationals) defeats No. 5 Jose Ramirez (Guardians)
- Ramirez – 17 HR – 421 feet longer: Baptizing with his right hand, the Cleveland star constantly drilled balls into the stands of the left field, but that probably won’t be enough to hold Soto.
- Soto – 18 HR – 482 feet longer: He made it look easy and didn’t even need his full minute of bonus time as he came out with a second remaining in regulation.
No. 2 Pete Alonso (Mets) defeats No. 7 Ronald Coins Jr. (Braves)
- Wedge – 19 HR – 472 feet longer: He could not find his balance prematurely and only hit a homer over 440 feet to gain 30 seconds of extra time. He was clearly left without gas in the end, but a great effort from a guy who broke the LCA days before last year’s All-Star Game.
- Alonso – 20 HR – 480 feet longer: It didn’t look great for Alonso with a minute to play, but as he does, he warmed up when it mattered and came out in the middle of the minute extra time.
Number 6 Julio Rodríguez (Mariners) defeats number 3. Corey Seager (Rangers)
- Rodriguez – 32 HR – 463 feet longer: The 21-year-old rookie was shut out and made 14 homers before taking a break in the middle of the three-minute round. He received a cheer from Mookie Betts ahead of bonus time and added seven more in the extra minute.
- Seager – 24 HR – 451 feet longer: With his father on the mound, the former Dodger scattered the stands on the right field with homers and warmed up at the end of the round, but didn’t have enough to catch Rodriguez. The fans loved it
No. 2 Pete Alonso (Mets) vs. No. 6 Julio Rodriguez (Mariners)
The number 4 Juan Soto (Nationals) against Kyle Schwarber / Albert Pujols winner
The “Polar Bear” carries a special wood.
Last year, the two-time defending champion had Mets bench coach Dave Jauss as a pitcher for the Home Run Derby. Although Jauss now works as an advisor to the Nationals organization, he will send Alonso to Los Angeles on Monday.