Home Run Derby 2019: Alonso Wins, Guerrero Jr. Puts On Show

CLEVELAND - The 2019 Home Run Derby in Cleveland may have been won by the New York Mets Pete Alonso, but the evening was really a coming out party for Toronto Blue Jays 20-year-old phenom Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson.

The son of former MLB legend Vladimir Guerrero hit a record 29 home runs in his first round at the Home Run Derby, beating his challenger Matt Chapman. To prove it wasn't a fluke, Guerrero Jr. clubbed another 29 home runs in his second round. It wasn't immediately enough to advance to the finals though.

Guerrero's competitor, Pederson, matched Guerrero's output, hitting 29 home runs, sending their contest into overtime. Each hitter was given one minute to hit as many more home runs as they could — Guerrero hit eight home runs, while Pederson hit...eight home runs.

The competitors then went into a third tie-breaker, where Guerrero Jr. finally put Pederson away. He technically hit 40 home runs in the second round, to Pederson's 39.

The reaction to the semifinals showdown was instant and it was jubilant. And that was just the semifinals.

Pete Alonso was waiting for Guerrero Jr. in the finals of the Home Run Derby. Despite a valiant final effort, that saw the Blue Jay hit 22 home runs, Alonso won the whole thing with 23 home runs. He won himself $1 million in the process.

Matt Chapman, Guerrero Jr., Alonso, Carlos Santana, Josh Bell, Ronald Acuna Jr., Alex Bregman and Pederson all took part in the competition on Tuesday night.

The Derby was run in a bracket format, with each slugger facing one opponent at a time. Chapman (stepping in for Christian Yelich) was the first seed and faced Guerrero Jr., the eighth seed.

Last year's Derby was won by Bryce Harper, then a member of the Washington Nationals.