2024 Home Run Derby recap, highlights: Teoscar Hernandez tops Bobby Witt Jr. in finals

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2024 Home Run Derby recap, highlights: Teoscar Hernandez tops Bobby Witt Jr. in finals

Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Tue, Jul 16, 2024 ·

9 min read

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Jose Ramirez will take his second crack at the Home Run Derby Monday night at Globe Life Field.

Ramirez is one of eight participants in the 2024 Derby . He'll be joined by Pete Alonso (a two-time winner), Alec Bohm , Adolis Garcia , Gunnar Henderson , Teoscar Hernandez , Marcell Ozuna and Bobby Witt Jr.

A view of the American League lounge during the MLB Game Home Run Derby, July 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Ramirez has hit 23 home runs this season. No Cleveland player has ever won the Home Run Derby. Albert Belle (1995) and Jim Thome (1998) both finished runner-up. A switch-hitter has never won the Derby, either.

Draft analysis: Travis Bazzana selected by Cleveland Guardians with top pick in 2024 MLB draft

Ramirez also took part in the 2022 Home Run Derby. There, he batted right-handed and hit 17 home runs in the first round but lost to Juan Soto .

Check back here for updates and highlights from the 2024 Home Run Derby.

Teoscar Hernandez of the Los Angeles Dodgers competes during the MLB Home Run Derby, July 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Who won the Home Run Derby? Teoscar Hernandez defeats Bobby Witt Jr. in the finals

That was a wild finish.

Teoscar Hernandez hit 14 home runs during his final round, setting up Bobby Witt Jr.

Witt appeared to be in trouble but went on a fantastic run toward the end of his round. In the bonus time, Witt drilled several home runs in a row. When he was down to his last "out," Witt crushed No. 13 to draw within one of Hernandez. On the next swing, Witt hit a ball hard to left-center field that hit the bottom of the wall, ending the Derby and giving Hernandez the title.

Home Run Derby live stats: Teoscar Hernandez beats Alec Bohm in swing-off to advance to finals

Teoscar Hernandez is moving into the finals to battle Bobby Witt Jr.

Hernandez and Alec Bohm each hit 14 home runs in their respective second rounds. That led to a "swing-off" consisting of three swings. Bohm hit one home run, but Hernandez hit two to advance.

Bohm narrowly missed winning it in regulation, but his final swing as the timer expired went just foul. Bohm then failed to hit a home run during his bonus time, leading to the swing-off.

Home Run Derby standings: Jose Ramirez eliminated; Bobby Witt Jr. advances to finals

Jose Ramirez hit only 12 home runs in the second round, and he has been eliminated. Bobby Witt Jr. will advance to the finals.

The run of no Cleveland hitter ever winning the Derby will continue for at least one more year.

Home Run Derby live stats: Bobby Witt Jr. hits 17 home runs in semifinals; Jose Ramirez up next

Bobby Witt Jr. went on a tear during the timed portion of his semifinal round but couldn't tack anything onto it during the bonus section, and he ended with 17 home runs. That's the number Jose Ramirez will need to hit to at least force a swing-off.

Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians (11) bats during the MLB Home Run Derby, July 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Who is winning the Home Run Derby? Jose Ramirez, Alec Bohm, Bobby Witt Jr., Teoscar Hernandez advance to semifinals

Gunnar Henderson couldn't reach the magic number of 19, and that will allow Teoscar Hernandez to advance to the final four with Jose Ramirez, Bobby Witt Jr. and Alec Bohm.

Ramirez will face Witt, while Henderson will face Bohm.

Home Run Derby standings: Marcell Ozuna hits 16 home runs; Jose Ramirez, Bobby Witt. Jr, Alec Bohm advance to semifinals

Marcell Ozuna hit only 16 home runs during his first round, which puts Bobby Witt. Jr into the semifinals.

Gunnar Henderson is the last hitter to take his swings in round 1. It'll either be Henderson or Teoscar Hernandez, who hit 19 home runs, joining Jose Ramirez, Bobby Witt Jr. and Alec Bohm.

Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians bats during the MLB Home Run Derby, July 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Home Run Derby live stats: Jose Ramirez launches 21 home runs in round 1, advances to semifinals

Jose Ramirez decided to hit left-handed in this Derby — he hit right-handed in 2022 — and was on fire, drilling 21 home runs to advance to the semifinals.

Triple-A hitting coach Junior Betances acted as Ramirez's pitcher for the Derby, and they'll at least be back for the semifinals.

Ramirez also eliminated Adolis Garcia in the process. Ramirez and Bohm are in. Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez are on the bubble with Marcell Ozuna and Gunnar Henderson still to hit.

Pete Alonso of the New York Mets bats during the MLB Home Run Derby, July 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Home Run Derby live stats: Two-time champ Pete Alonso struggles in Round 1, hits only 12 home runs and is eliminated

Pete Alonso entered the night as the favorite, but he won't be escaping the first round after he hit only 12 home runs. That puts him in fifth, which makes him the first hitter of the night eliminated, since only the top four will advance.

Alonso, one of the best to ever swing in the derby's history, never really looked comfortable tonight.

Jose Ramirez is up next. He needs to hit at least 18 to stay alive. Alec Bohm has advanced to the semifinals.

Adolis Garcia of the Texas Rangers bats during the MLB Game Home Run Derby, July 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Home Run Derby live stats: Adolis Garcia hits 18 home runs in round 1; Teoscar Hernandez slugs 19

Halfway through Round 1, it's looking like 20 might be a key number tonight.

Adolis Garcia, with the hometown crowd, hit 18 and Teoscar Hernandez followed with 19. Both are in trouble of not advancing after Bohm and Witt both reached 20, and there are still four hitters to step to the plate.

Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals bats during the MLB Home Run Derby, July 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Home Run Derby update: Bobby Witt Jr. hits 20 homers in round 1

Bobby Witt Jr. followed Bohm by reaching the 20-homer plateau as well, finishing just one behind Bohm.

Next up is Adolis Garcia, who gets to hit in front of a Rangers-heavy crowd in Arlington.

Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies bats in the MLB Home Run Derby, July 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.

Home Run Derby live stats: Alec Bohm kicks off 2024 Home Run Derby with 21 homers in round 1

Phillies infielder Alec Bohm is the first hitter on the board with 21 home runs.

All eight hitters will take their turn, and the top four till advance to the semifinals.

Guardians star third baseman Jose Ramirez will hit sixth. Bobby Witt Jr. is on deck.

Gunner Henderson shows off Scooby-Doo inspired bat for 2024 Home Run Derby

Gunner Henderson's bat for tonight's derby is pretty awesome.

Ingrid Andress delivers one of the worst National Anthems at Home Run Derby

Singer Ingrid Andress sand the National Anthem before the Home Run Derby and, well, the responses on social media were not too complimentary. This is one of those anthems, like Carl Lewis and Fergie, that you'll hear about for a long time (unfortunately).

Below is some pre-Derby information.

2024 Home Run Derby format

There will be no seeding in the first round of the 2024 Home Run Derb y. Instead, all eight participants will go through their own initial round of the Derby, and the top four amongst that group will advance to the semifinals.

Seeding for the semifinals will be determined by the number of home runs each participant hit in the first round. If there is a tie, the player with the longest home run will get the tiebreaker. They'll then finish the competition in a traditional final four bracket format.

There are also a few format changes to this year's Home Run Derby. There is a pitch limit — in each of the first two rounds, a hitter will be allowed three minutes (before bonus time) or 40 pitches, whichever limit is hit first. In the finals, hitters will be given two minutes (before bonus time) or a maximum of 27 pitches, whichever comes first.

Bonus time will now be given in the form of three "outs" (any ball that is hit but not a home run). If a player hits a home run of at least 425 feet during the bonus period, they'll get one additional "out."

Jul 18, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) hits in the first round during the 2022 Home Run Derby at Dodgers Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Batters can stop the clock one time, for 45 seconds, during each of the three regulation periods.

If a tiebreaker is needed at the end of a round, ties will be broken by a 60-second swing-off with no stoppage time or bonus time added. If there is still a tie after the swing-off, players will engage in three successive three-swing swing-offs until there is a winner.

View of the eight players competing in the 2022 Home Run Derby at Dodgers Stadium, July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles. Jose Ramirez of the Guardians is third from left.

How can I watch the 2024 Home Run Derby?

The '24 Derby will be televised on ESPN at 8 p.m.

Home Run Derby betting Odds*

Pete Alonso, Mets (+320)
Marcell Ozuna, Braves (+425)
Bobby Witt Jr., Royals (+425)
Gunnar Henderson, Orioles (+475)
Adolis Garcia, Rangers (+550)
Teoscar Hernandez, Dodgers (+1000)
Jose Ramirez, Guardians (+1300)
Alec Bohm, Phillies (+1700)
*DraftKings

2024 Home Run Derby Prop picks

Henderson hit the break with 28 home runs, most of any player in the Derby field. The public expects him to start fast on Monday night, backing him at DraftKings with 76% of the money at +450 to club the most homers in the first round.

However, it's another rising superstar who has been supported the heaviest to slug to longest homer of the night. That would be Witt Jr., who has drawn 43% of the money, with the next closest being Garcia with 16 percent at +1000.

The son of former Ranger Bobby Witt grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, attending Colleyville Heritage High School. He'll have plenty of motivation to put on a show in front of his hometown fans.

Henderson and Witt Jr. are also the most popular tandem to face each other in the finals, drawing 15% of the money and 10% of the bets. That tops a potential final putting Henderson against Alonso, which has been backed by 14% of the money but does top the options with 16% of the total bets.

The Over/Under for the total number of homers hit on Monday night is 269.5, with the Over backed by 86% of the money.

What is the prize for 2024 Home Run Derby

The Home Run Derby prize pool has been increased to $2.5 million. The winner will take home $1 million.

Field Level Media contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 2024 Home Run Derby updates and highlights from Jose Ramirez, field

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