While he didn’t hit as many home runs, he crushed the ball.
Advertisement
Standing 6-foot 6-inches, his power may not surprise many. He walloped the top eight longest home runs on the evening, and almost touched 500 feet twice. He will now take on Orioles’ outfielder and the top overall seed in this year’s Home Run Derby, Mark Trumbo.
But Stanton looked as though he invented the home run. Chicago limped into the break 6-15 over its past 21 games, and of course numerous Cubs key players won’t get much of a rest – Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester are all headed to San Diego as All-Stars.
The former Reds third baseman ousted the first-time All-Star Duvall 16-15 on Monday at Petco Park in San Diego.
Trumbo defeated Los Angeles Dodgers rookie shortstop Corey Seager, 16-15, in their first-round match.
Stanton was cheered on by his Marlins teammates throughout the HR Derby. Abreu only had 10 outs per round to work with, where Stanton had as many swings as he could fit into a time limit.
His opening round left 2011 Derby champion Robinson Cano in the distance after he only hit seven home runs. Stanton hit 24 home runs in the round which was easily the highest total of any competitor. Before we got our first glimpse of Giancarlo Stanton, it seemed like it might be Trumbo’s night. Wil Myers, San Diego.
Each round consisted of each batter getting four minutes, with the clock starting with the release of the first pitch. But it wasn’t enough as Adam Duvall (23), who rose from platoon player to All-Star this season, managed to knock him out. The players usually come equipped with their own pitcher. His new hitting coach is home run king Barry Bonds.
The derby’s format was the same as the 2015 format, which saw Frazier win at the Great American Ballpark. Before winning at Cincinnati as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, he advanced to the finals at Target Field in Minneapolis in 2014.
That set up for an intriguing final between Stanton and last year’s champion Todd Frazier.
In one of the most anticipated matchups of the night, Stanton led off this battle of right handed sluggers. The advantage of going first though is that it puts pressure on the opponent. In the semifinals, Stanton hit his second 497-foot home run, tied for the longest bomb of the night.
Trumbo needed 18 to move on to the finals.
Giancarlo Stanton absolutely destroyed the Home Run Derby last night.
Advertisement
The other first-round matchups went as expected.
