The 2010 Major League All-Star break celebrations got started on Monday with Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz winning the State Farm Home Run Derby at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
This was Ortiz’s fourth derby appearance, but his first win and the first win for a Red Sox player.
“Big Papi” won in a big way, tying the final round record of 11 home runs set in 2005 by Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu.
“It means a lot to me. Thanks to the fans for [their] support. Thank you to everyone for showing up; you know, we do this for you guys,” Ortiz told ESPN.
Ortiz squared off against Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the final round after the two knocked off Chris Young (Arizona Diamondbacks), Vernon Wells (Toronto Blue Jays), Nick Swisher (New York Yankees), and Matt Holliday (St. Louis Cardinals) in the first round, and Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers), and Corey Hart (Milwaukee Brewers) in the second round.
Ramirez put on a good performance to survive the second round, hitting 12 homers to tie Ortiz’s first and second round total of 21. Several of those came with his back against the wall as he had nine outs.
Corey Hart led the first round with 13 home runs in his first derby appearance. But the 27-year-old right fielder astonished everyone by hitting no homers in the second round, the only drought of the night. Hart hit second in the first round but last in the second round and was stiff after over 30 minutes of waiting.
“It was a pretty long break, and I wasn’t able to get my body back to be able to hit homers again,” Hart said.
Another surprise was Miguel Cabrera, only delivering 12 homers in two rounds. Cabrera is batting .346 this year and already has 22 home runs and 77 RBIs as one of MLB’s triple crown hitting leaders.
The derby generated $573,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of America by the sponsor State Farm.
This was Ortiz’s fourth derby appearance, but his first win and the first win for a Red Sox player.
“Big Papi” won in a big way, tying the final round record of 11 home runs set in 2005 by Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bobby Abreu.
“It means a lot to me. Thanks to the fans for [their] support. Thank you to everyone for showing up; you know, we do this for you guys,” Ortiz told ESPN.
Ortiz squared off against Florida Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the final round after the two knocked off Chris Young (Arizona Diamondbacks), Vernon Wells (Toronto Blue Jays), Nick Swisher (New York Yankees), and Matt Holliday (St. Louis Cardinals) in the first round, and Miguel Cabrera (Detroit Tigers), and Corey Hart (Milwaukee Brewers) in the second round.
Ramirez put on a good performance to survive the second round, hitting 12 homers to tie Ortiz’s first and second round total of 21. Several of those came with his back against the wall as he had nine outs.
Corey Hart led the first round with 13 home runs in his first derby appearance. But the 27-year-old right fielder astonished everyone by hitting no homers in the second round, the only drought of the night. Hart hit second in the first round but last in the second round and was stiff after over 30 minutes of waiting.
“It was a pretty long break, and I wasn’t able to get my body back to be able to hit homers again,” Hart said.
Another surprise was Miguel Cabrera, only delivering 12 homers in two rounds. Cabrera is batting .346 this year and already has 22 home runs and 77 RBIs as one of MLB’s triple crown hitting leaders.
The derby generated $573,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of America by the sponsor State Farm.
Derby Rules
The Home Run Derby is played each year before the All-Star game by eight of MLB’s best hitters; four from the National League and four from the American league.
Each hitter selects his own pitcher. There are two rounds and a final round with all eight players hitting in the first round. Each swing or hit that doesn’t result in a home run counts as an out, and each player gets 10 outs each round to hit as many home runs as they can.
The four players with the most home runs in the first round move into the second round.
Home runs are cumulative through the second round. The two players with the most home runs at the end of the second round move into the final round, with their home run totals reset.
