Dodgers: Joc Pederson Battles Vlad Guerrero Jr, Falls Short in Home Run Derby

Last night, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson slugged an impressive 60 total home runs in Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby, but unfortunately fell short in an incredible “derby for the ages”.

First Round: Pederson vs Bregman

Joc Pederson’s 21 first round home runs took down Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman as he couldn’t quite keep pace with his 16. Pederson’s 21 home runs were the most in a first round under the current derby format, defeating the previous record of 16.

However, the record was short lived as Toronto Blue Jays’ rookie slugger, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. mashed a whopping 29 first round home runs to break the all time first round record of any format and defeat his first opponent, Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman.  

Second Round: Pederson vs Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. matched his first round 29 home runs with 29 more in the second round, leaving little belief that Joc Pederson could complete.  Joc Pederson did the unthinkable and tied Guerrero Jr’s 29 home runs. Pederson and Guerrero Jr. advance to a 1 minute tie breaker round.

Joc Pederson is stunning the baseball world. Follows 29 HRs by Vlad Jr. and hits 29. Wow. Playoff.

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) July 9, 2019

2nd Round Tie-Breaker: Pederson vs Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added 8 more home runs in his 1 minute round for a total of 37 second round home runs.  Once again, Pederson matched up with 8 more home runs of his own, the being a buzzer-beater.  This advances the two to a 3-swing playoff dubbed a Swing-Off.

Joc Pederson ties Vlad Jr. at the buzzer! ? pic.twitter.com/VcMfb7sYzV

— ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2019

2nd Round Swing-Off: Pederson vs Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added 1 home run in his Swing-Off round.  Joc Pederson once again matches with 1 more of his own.

Another tie!!

Joc Pederson ties Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in another swing off.

Both will now get three swings.

— Today in MLB (@Todayin_MLB) July 9, 2019

2nd Round Swing-Off Part II: Pederson vs Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. added 2 home runs in his second Swing-Off round.  Joc Pederson adds 1 home run of his own, but falls 1 short from tying it up again.

WHAT. A. ROUND.

79 homers between Joc Pederson and Vlad Jr. #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/bjRYqLFKia

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 9, 2019

Final Round: Vladimir Guerrero Jr vs Pete Alonso

Pete Alonso goes on to defeat with 23 home runs to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 22 home runs. Guerrero looked visibly exhausted from the 2nd round showdown with Joc Pederson.

.@Pete_Alonso20 won the #HRDerby, so by law he gets a BatCast. pic.twitter.com/BUcANOcTjZ

— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 9, 2019

There were an incredible 312 home runs hit.

These guys raised the bar. ? #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/KXOexFFZKk

— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2019