Fansided

5 most memorable Home Run Derby performances since 2000

By Ryan Morik

NEW YORK - JULY 14: Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers swings during the 2008 MLB All-Star State Farm Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium on July 14, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JULY 14: Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers swings during the 2008 MLB All-Star State Farm Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium on July 14, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
DETROIT – JULY 12: National League All-Star Bobby Abreu of the Philadelphia Phillies practices batting before the 76th Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 12, 2005 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
DETROIT – JULY 12: National League All-Star Bobby Abreu of the Philadelphia Phillies practices batting before the 76th Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 12, 2005 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

4. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 2005 HR Derby. Bobby Abreu. 6. Philadelphia Phillies

Bobby Abreu was the first person to make us realize that the impossible was possible when it comes to the Derby.

Abreu was posting MVP-like numbers at the 2005 All-Star break. He had 18 homers and 58 RBI, with a slash line of .307/.428/.526. His 18 homers were tied for the 18th most in the big leagues.

Abreu opened up the 2005 Derby and became the first person to hit more than 15 home runs in a single round of the Home Run Derby, by hitting 24 in the first round at Comerica Park. David Ortiz wound up hitting 17 later on that round, the second-most in any round ever at the time.

Unlike Hamilton, Abreu’s performance was made more special by eventually winning it all.

What made Abreu’s performance that much more special was his 517-foot home run, the second-furthest in Derby history at the time, and the fact that he hit 11 home runs in his final three outs. Abreu was at bat for over 17 minutes!

He shattered a single-round record by nine home runs, and that record stood until Josh Hamilton’s amazing performance in the Bronx.

Home/MLB