SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 10: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks on during … [+]
There wasn’t an empty seat in T Mobile Park July 10, as the Seattle Mariners hosted the 2023 T-Mobile Home Run Derby. The crowd of 46,952 was a sellout.
A beautiful Seattle evening with a few clouds in the sky greeted excited baseball fans eagerly cheering and celebrating the long ball.
The Derby was won by Vlad Guerrero Jr., who defeated Randy Arozarena by a final score of 25-23.
MLB offered a 2.5 million prize pool for Derby participants. The winner, Vlad Guerrero Jr. received $1 million. Runner-up Randy Arozarena received $750,000. The remainder of the pool was divided among all participants.
Each of the eight sluggers earned their prize money. It was a very competitive field, and each hitter did enough to remain in contention.
In the end, the battle of hometown favorite Julio Rodriguez against Blue Jays All Star Vlad Guerrero Jr. was the one match that left the crowed on the edge of their seats.
But Guerrero Jr. proved too much for Rodriguez in the semi-finals, as he defeated the home town favorite, 21-20.
The eight participants in the Derby, and their round-by round competitive pairing results included:
Round One:
5-seed Randy Arozarena-Tampa Bay Rays
vs.
4-seed Adolis Garcia-Texas Rangers
Arozarena defeated Garcia, 24-17
8-seed Adley Rutschman-Baltimore Orioles
vs.
1-seed Luis Robert Jr.-Chicago White Sox
Robert defeated Rutschman, 28-27
6-seed Vlad Guerrero Jr.-Toronto Blue Jays
vs.
3-seed Mookie Betts-Los Angeles Dodgers
Guerrero Jr. defeated Betts, 26-11
7-seed Julio Rodriguez-Seattle Mariners
vs.
2-seed Pete Alonso-New York Mets
Rodriguez defeated Alonso, 41-21
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 10: Randy Arozarena #56 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts during the T-Mobile … [+]
Semi-finals:
Randy Arozarena-Tampa Bay Rays
vs.
Luis Robert-Chicago White Sox
Arozarena defeated Robert, 35-22
Julio Rodriguez-Seattle Mariners
vs.
Vlad Guerrero Jr.-Toronto Blue Jays
Guerrero Jr. defeated Rodriguez, 21-20
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 10: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the … [+]
Final:
Randy Arozarena-Tampa Bay Rays
vs.
Vlad Guerrero Jr.-Toronto Blue Jays
Vlad Guerrero Jr. defeated Randy Arozarena for the T-Mobile Home Run Derby Championship with an amazingly close, 25-23 score.
Last Eight Home Run Derby Winners:
2023-Vlad Guerrero Jr.
2022- Juan Soto
2021- Pete Alonso
2020- NO DERBY
2019- Pete Alonso
2018- Bryce Harper
2017- Aaron Judge
2016- Giancarlo Stanton
2015- Todd Frazier
Another All Star Home Run Derby is in the books.
The sellout crowd at T-Mobile Park in Seattle didn’t see their home star favorite, Julio Rodriguez win, but he put up quite a battle.
Congratulations to Toronto Blue Jays All Star, Vlad Guerrero Jr., who is the 2023 T-Mobile Home Run Derby Champion.
