Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bested Randy Arozarena in the final of the MLB Home Run Derby, delighting fans with father-son connections.
The Home Run Derby crown now belongs to Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who managed to follow in his father’s footsteps in one more impressive way.
Guerrero Jr. set a new record for home runs in the final of the Derby with 25, setting a pace that Randy Arozarena couldn’t keep up with. The Rays star came close in the final seconds, but ultimately fell two home runs shy with 23.
It’s impressive enough that Guerrero Jr. has made a name for himself as one of the best bats in baseball but now he’s matched his father Vladimir Guerrero as a Home Run Derby champ.
Best memes and tweets as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wins Home Run Derby
PROUD and LOVE FOR MY SON
— Vladimir Guerrero (@VladGuerrero27) July 11, 2023
Congratulation Vlad Jr! ♥️
For the first time in the history of the Derby, we have father-son winners.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 11, 2023
Vlad Guerrero Sr. won the 2007 Derby in San Francisco.
Vladdy Jr. will join him. He just hung on to beat Randy Arozarena, 25-23.
The Guerrero family was built to win Derbies.
Vladimir Guerrero (2007) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2023) become the first father & son duo to win the Home Run Derby. pic.twitter.com/4l2jgx6IvC
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) July 11, 2023
16 years ago, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. watched his father win the Home Run Derby.
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 11, 2023
Today, Vlad takes home the trophy himself 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Le9Dv7FHsP
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the second person named Vladimir to win the Home Run Derby
— Jay Cuda (@JayCuda) July 11, 2023
Vlad Jr's reaction to Marshawn putting on the HR Derby chain pic.twitter.com/1lfATF8ODI
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) July 11, 2023
Guerrero Jr. is the first Blue Jay to win the Home Run Derby. He did it by outlasting the other seven participants who were seeded into a bracket based on home runs in the first half of the season ahead of All-Star week.
The No. 6 seed, Guerrero Jr. beat out No. 3 seed Mookie Bets with 28 home runs to just 11. In the semifinals, Guerrero Jr. took down No. 7 seed Julio Rodriguez, whose 41 homers in the first round to knock out No. 2 seed Pete Alonso were the most in Derby history in a round.
Arozarena, the No. 5 seed, faced No. 4 seed Adolis Garcia in the first round, winning 24-17. In the semifinals, he bested No. 1 seed Luis Robert Jr., 35-22.
All in all it was a fun event, featuring switch-hitting from Adley Rutchsman and new records set.