Guerrero Jr. Wins HR Derby; Knocks Kid Out in the Process

SEATTLE, WA — Almost exactly four years after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. set the single-round Home Run Derby record, the Toronto Blue Jay finally captured the 2023 MLB Home Run Derby Title. Guerrero Jr. outlasted Randy Arozarena to claim the most popular title during All-Star Week on Monday Night at T-Mobile Stadium in Seattle.

In 2019, Guerrero Jr. set a record for home runs in a single round only to eventually lose the contest to Pete Alonso later. On Monday, Guerrero Jr. watched the Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez beat his record, 41 home runs to Guerrero Jr.’s 40 in 2019, only to beat out Rodriguez in the semifinals in the end. After a short timeout, Guerrero Jr. squared off against Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena in the finals. Arozarena hit 85 home runs on the day, with 21 in the final round, but could not match Guerrero Jr.’s 25 in the last frame to beat the champion. 

Son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, Guerrero Jr. added to his family’s legacy when he joined his father as Home Run Derby Champion. The two mark the first time in MLB history that a father-son duo has won the Home Run Derby.

The only unfortunate thing to happen to Guerrero Jr. on his Championship night was when a ball hit hard to the outfield in his championship round struck a child, knocking them out cold. The Blue Jay lined a 116 mph bullet to left field. The child tried to catch the ball but just missed. He collapsed to the ground while other kids looked on in shock. Luckily for everyone, the young boy was fine, but those moments are always tense.