MLB
3hrFollow live: MLB Home Run Derby
Fans at Target Field have their rain ponchos on, but the Home Run Derby is underway after a one-hour delay. (Jeff Curry, USA TODAY Sports)
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Refresh regularly as USA TODAY Sports’ baseball staff brings live analysis from the Home Run Derby (9 p.m. ET on ESPN) at Target Field in Minneapolis.
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Now THAT’S more like it. Blue Jays outfielder (and occasional first baseman) Jose Bautista restores the shine to what has been a lackluster first round by launching 10 dingers into the seats with a long of 428 feet.
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Rockies shortstop and NL team captain Troy Tulowitzki hits four over the fence to take the early lead. His best: 402 feet.
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Twins second baseman Brian Dozier has the hometown support behind him, but only manages to hit a pair of homers. Longer one: 372 feet.
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Reds third baseman Todd Frazier begins the first round with two home runs, the longer of the two going 427 feet.
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ESPN’s Chris Berman has made his entrance and announced it’s time for “target practice at Target Field.” It looks like we will have a Home Run Derby after all.
Nice ovation for 2006 AL MVP and former Minnesota Twin Justin Morneau.
Because of the one-hour rain delay, each hitter will only get seven outs instead of the “traditional” 10.
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Looking for some rain-delay reading material?
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Todd Frazier will lead off the Derby. His older brother, Charlie, who also played professional baseball, will pitch him. Todd Frazier says he only needs 5-10 minutes to get ready once they announce a start time. The 8:30 p.m. ET has come and gone.
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Players can’t wait to see 6-foot-5, 250 pound Giancarlo Stanton perform in the Home Run Derby. Many think he can hit it out of the stadium. For the record, Stanton has 5 home runs this season that traveled over 450 feet — that’s more than any other team.
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The Home Run Derby is being delayed by weather. Scheduled now to begin at 8:30 pm. ET. Where is the Metrodome when you need it.
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So, who’s going to win the Home Run Derby?
Ten of baseballs best sluggers are ready to tee off at Target Field, which yields 9% more home runs than the average ballpark this season, according to ESPN’s park factor.
Can Athletics slugger Yoenis Cespedes defend his title or will Miami Marlins star Giancarlo Stanton — Vegas’ betting favorite – take the crown?
Cespedes’ teammate and participant Josh Donaldson says he knows how it will end. “Cespedes won the Home Run Derby last year. And I picked his brain about it,” Donaldson said with a grin. “I told him earlier he may be the defending champ, but I am the people’s champ and I’m going to take it back.”
This year features a new format – in bracket form. Five AL players will square off against their NL counterparts and the number of outs per round is reduced from 10 to seven.
The top batter from both the NL and AL will automatically advance until they meet in the finals.
AMERICAN LEAGUE LINEUP
- Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: 17 HR / HR avg: 405 ft.
- Yoenis Cespedes, A’s: 14 HR / HR avg: 384 ft.
- Josh Donaldson, A’s: 20 HR / HR avg: 394 ft.
- Brian Dozier, Twins: 18 HR / HR avg: 379 ft.
- Adam Jones, Orioles: 16 HR / HR avg: 399 ft.
NATIONAL LEAGUE LINEUP
- Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies: 21 HR / HR avg: 398 ft.
- Todd Frazier, Reds: 19 HR / HR avg: 399 ft.
- Justin Morneau, Rockies: 13 HR / HR avg: 402 ft.
- Yasiel Puig, Dodgers: 12 HR / HR avg: 417 ft.
- Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins: 21 HR / HR avg: 424 ft.
ODDS TO WIN THE HR DERBY, courtesy of Bovada
- Giancarlo Stanton … 3/1
- Yasiel Puig … 9/2
- Jose Bautista … 19/4
- Yoenis Cespedes … 19/4
- Troy Tulowitzki … 9/1
- Justin Morneau … 10/1
- Adam Jones … 12/1
- Josh Donaldson … 12/1
- Todd Frazier … 12/1
- Brian Dozier … 16/1
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