Washington Nationals slugger, Juan Soto is the 2022 champion for the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby that took place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on 18 July 2022.
Soto beat Seattle Mariners star, fellow Dominican Julio Rodríguez in the finals to become the second-youngest player to win the Home Run Derby — one day older than Juan González was (23 years, 265 days) when he won in 1993.
Washington Nationals star Juan Soto won his first Home Run Derby holding off Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodríguez 19-18 in the final. The 23-year-old Soto hit 53 total homers, beating each of his three opponents by one homer in the midseason power showcase.
MLB also reported that 23-year-old superstar also became the sixth Dominican-born player to win the Derby, joining Sammy Sosa (2000), Miguel Tejada (2004), Vladimir Guerrero Sr. (2007), David Ortiz (2010) and Robinson Canó (2011). MLB highlighted in reporting on the event that while Soto took home the trophy, three of the four semifinalists (Albert Pujols, Rodríguez and Soto) were born in the Dominican Republic.
MLB also reported that another special moment took place after Pujols’ first round of the Derby. Participating in his last All-Star Game before retiring at the end of the season, Pujols was treated to a standing ovation by the Dodger Stadium crowd. Every All-Star in attendance huddled around the future Hall of Famer to show their appreciation for one of the best careers in Major League history.
The classic featured four Dominicans. These are Albert Pujols (St. Louis Cardinals), Juan Soto (Washington Nationals), José Ramírez (Cleveland Guardians) and Julio Rodríguez (Seattle Mariners).
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Washington Post
19 July 2022