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) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 08: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after knocking out Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Progressive Field on July 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 08: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after knocking out Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Progressive Field on July 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

1. Pick Analysis. 2019 HR Derby. Vlad Guerrero Jr. 39. Scouting Report. Toronto Blue Jays. player

Pick Analysis. Los Angeles Dodgers. player. 2019 HR Derby. Joc Pederson. 1. 71. Scouting Report

The hype around Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. has been real for quite some time, and rightfully so.

The son of the 2007 Derby winner and Hall of Famer made his big league debut last year and was invited to last season’s Derby. And then he practically rewrote the record book.

In the first round, Guerrero, Jr. set the record for the most home runs in any single round with 29 home runs. His dad hit just 17 homers when he won the 2007 Derby in San Francisco.

In the second round, Guerrero, Jr. did more of the same as the previous round, literally. He blasted another 29 home runs in the second round, tying his brand new record.

But he had to go up against Joe Pederson, who was coming fresh off a 21-home run first round. Pederson tied Guerrero with 29 homers of his own.

So not only had no one hit 29 home runs in a round before the 2019 derby but now, two players had done it to bring them to overtime. The record set the previous round, and tied twice in that round, was already going to be broken.

In the first 60-second overtime round, Guerrero, Jr. rocked eight home runs.

So did Pederson.

In the first swing-off, Vlad belted one home run in three swings.

So did Pederson.

In the next swing-off, Guerrero, Jr. went 2-for-3. Pederson went 1-for-3.

79 home runs. 40 by Guerrero, 39 by Pederson, both by far the two most in a single round.

Guerrero’s 91 home runs in the entire Derby, despite losing to Pete Alonso in the final, are the most in one Derby. It’s also tied for the most all time home runs in the Derby, behind Pederson’s 99 from 2015 and 2019. Todd Frazier also has 91 homers in three Derbies.

Pederson’s 60 home runs in 2019, despite it only being in two rounds, are the third-most in a single Derby.

It was the best round in the history of the Home Run Derby.

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