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Pete Alonso Falls To Julio Rodriguez in HR Derby

The Home Run Derby is one of the most fun days of the Major League Baseball season. New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso has been a mainstay at baseball’s annual slugfest tournament since 2019. Winning two Home Run Derby’s in 2019 and 2021. Becoming just the fourth player to ever win the Derby multiple times. Prince Fielder, Yoenis Céspedes, and Ken Griffey Jr.being the others. Griffey having the most with three. In 2022, Alonso got past rival Ronald Acuña Jr. in the first round but was knocked out in the second round by Julio Rodríguez. This year, Alonso was voted into the All-Star game as a reserve, and he immediately announced he would participate in this year’s Home Run Derby. 

Pete Alonso Falls to Julio Rodriguez in HR Derby

In the first round, Alonso was matched up with a familiar foe in Rodríguez. Playing as the clear-cut heel in the round getting booed by the Seattle faithful. Julio, just like the year before, put on a show in the first round, and once again knocked out the two-time Derby champion. 

41 homers in the first round for Rodríguez. Bringing back memories of Josh Hamilton in 2008 and it would prove to be too much for the Polar Bear. Alonso would only hit 21 home runs in the round. The earliest he’d ever been knocked out to this point in the Derby after advancing to the Finals and Semi-Finals, respectively. With Rodríguez proving once again he is Alonso’s Home Run Derby kryptonite. 

Interesting to note that Alonso’s originally pitcher, Mike Friedlein, injured his forearm. Friedlein was someone Alonso had chemistry with and due to his injury, he was replaced by Mets assistant coach Aaron Myers, who Alonso had little chemistry with. During the round, their lack of chemistry was on display and Myers threw a lot of balls away from the plate and Alonso never really got into a groove. Regardless, with or without Friedlein, it would’ve been extremely tough to beat Rodríguez on this night. The Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr.would win the Derby for the first time. Alonso will have to wait another year to tie Griffey Jr’s Home Run Derby record. 

 

Photo Credit- Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Players Mentioned- Pete Alonso, Prince Fielder, Yoenis Cespedes, Ken Griffey Jr. Julio Rodriguez, Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Evan Mazza, Site Editor

Evan Mazza, Site Editor

Evan was born on Long Island, New York growing up as a lifelong New York Mets fan (his middle name being Shea) and Baltimore Ravens fan. Evan's had a love for sports talk, sports writing and sports in general since his childhood. Evan covered for his High School sports teams for the school newspaper, as well as being an intern for WPIX Channel 11, and at The Associated Press. Evan graduated from Suffolk County Community College and Connecticut School of Broadcasting. Previously, he has written for SB Nation's Baltimore Beatdown covering the Baltimore Ravens. As well as covering the New York Mets, New York Yankees, New York Jets, and New York Giants for BlueHQMedia. Recently, Evan's been a writer for Worldwide Sports Radio Network (formerly Sportsonthego1) as well as a producer and talent for on-air shows. Evan is now writing for LastWordOnSports.com covering the New York Mets, Baltimore Ravens, and all things MLB and NFL.

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