Jose RamirezGuardians veteran, Marcell Ozunaslugger for the Braves, and Teoscar HernandezDodgers outfielder, will proudly represent the Dominican Republic in the Home Run Derby that will be held today, Monday, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
Marcell Ozuna, designated hitter for the Atlanta Braves, has 26 home runs this season, José Ramírez, third baseman for the Cleveland Guardians, has 23, while Teoscar Hernández, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has 19 home runs.
Marcell Ozuna, designated hitter of the Atlanta Braves.
When the clock strikes 8:00 p.m. at Arlington’s Globe Life Field, this trio of baseball players will compete against five other players to try to take home the trophy that other Dominicans have already won.
The other five baseball players who will participate in the 2024 home run competition are Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles, Adolis Garcia of the Texas Rangers, Bobbby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals and Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies.
New rules
This year, the Home Run Derby will feature rule changes: the eight participants will attempt to hit as many home runs as possible in the allotted time, with the top four advancing to the semifinals. Then, in the semifinals, spots will be decided by the number of home runs hit in the first round, with tiebreakers determined by the length of the home run.
In each of the first two rounds, each batter will have three minutes or 40 pitches, whichever comes first. In the final round, batters will have two minutes or a maximum of 27 pitches. Batters will have three outs to hit as many home runs as possible, with the possibility of getting an additional out if they hit a home run of at least 425 feet.
Dominicans heroes of the Derby
The list of Dominicans who have triumphed in the home run competition includes Sammy Sosa; winner in 2000, Miguel Tejada; who did it in 2004, Vladimir Guerrero; he matched the feat in 2007, David Ortiz; he took the title in 2010, Robinson Canó; he was crowned champion in 2011, Juan Soto in 2022, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. triumphed in the 2023 version to, together with his father, become the only father and son duo to have won the Home Run Derby.
With information from El Dia
