Vladimir Guerrero joins Vladimir Sr. as first father-son Home Run Derby winners

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made history by teaming up with his father, Vladimir Sr., to become the first father-son duo to win the All-Star Home Run Derby. Guerrero Jr. defeated Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena 25-23 in the final round on Monday night.

In the semifinals, Guerrero faced off against Julio Rodríguez and came out on top with a close score of 21-20. Rodríguez had an impressive performance in the first round, setting a record with 41 home runs in front of his hometown fans.

Facing off against Blue Jays manager John Schneider in the semifinals, Guerrero put on a show, setting a new record for homers in the final round. His final swing secured his spot in the finals, surpassing the mark set by Pete Alonso when he defeated Guerrero 23-22 in 2019.

Vladimir Guerrero Sr. had previously won the Home Run Derby in 2007 while playing for the Los Angeles Angels. He defeated the Blue Jays’ Alex Rios 3-2 in the final. Now, with Guerrero Jr.’s victory, they have become the first father-son duo to achieve this accolade.

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In the other semifinal matchup, Arozarena faced Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox. Arozarena came out on top with a score of 35-22. Robert hit the longest home run of the night, a 484-foot shot to left field in the second round, surpassing Barry Bonds’ record of 476 feet in the 2001 derby.

Despite Arozarena having the most overall home runs throughout the three rounds (82 to Guerrero’s 72), Guerrero’s impressive performance in the final round secured his victory. Arozarena acknowledged Guerrero’s incredible power and the advantage of having an additional minute of bonus time.

In the opening matchups, Arozarena defeated Adolis García of the Texas Rangers 24-17, while Robert knocked out Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles 28-27. Rutschman showcased his skills by hitting 21 left-handed and then hitting six more right-handed in a 30-second bonus round.

Vladimir Guerrero joins Vladimir Sr. as first father-son Home Run Derby winners

Guerrero’s journey to victory started with a 26-11 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts in the first round. Four years ago, Guerrero had an impressive performance at the Home Run Derby, hitting 29 home runs in the first round and 40 in the second before losing to Alonso in the final.

Alonso, a two-time champion, was aiming for his third title in four years but fell short. The only player to achieve the feat of winning the Home Run Derby at their home stadium is Ken Griffey Jr., who won the title three times for the Seattle Mariners in 1994, 1998, and 1999. Other players who have won the title at home include Ryne Sandberg in 1990, Todd Frazier in 2015, and Bryce Harper in 2018.

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