Who won the 2023 MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby?
By winning the All-Star Home Run Derby, the Blue Jays star matched his father’s 2007 achievement, making them the first-ever father-son duo to do so.
Just four years on from setting a single-round Home Run Derby record, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was at it again, and this time he came out as the winner. Indeed, the Jays first baseman defeated hometown favorite Julio Rodriguez who himself had set a record and then managed to take down Randy Arozarena to take the title.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. wins the 2023 All-Star Home Run Derby
On Monday night, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the All-Star Home Run Derby which of course brought immediate comparisons with his Hall of Fame father who completed the feat back in 2007. That’s not to say that the shine was taken off of his victory, but even the Jays star himself couldn’t help but acknowledge the head-to-head with his old man.
“It’s kind of difficult right now,” Guerrero said with a big smile while speaking through a translator. “With the time, with the minutes, I’ll win. If it’s by outs, he’ll win.” To be clear, Guerrero outlasted Randy Arozarena to win 25-23 in a park that has seen its share of homers having played host to Ken Griffey Jr. when he played for the Mariners some years ago. For perspective, he was just 8 years old when his father claimed back in 2007. “I don’t remember much about 2007,” Vladimir Jr. said. “I guess I was too young.” Vladimir Guerrero Sr. won the 2007 derby while playing for the Los Angeles Angels, beating the Blue Jays’ Alex Rios 3-2 in the final.
What did the win look like for Vladimir Guerrero?
Where distance is concerned, Guerrero Jr. registered a total of 5 1/2 miles of homers - 29,390 feet to be precise. Facing Mariners star Julio Rodriguez, he knew he was up against it when Rodriguez hit a record 41 home runs in the first round in front of his own fans in Seattle. Yet, the 24-year-old held his reserve and managed to defeat the fan favorite 21-20 in the semifinals. In the semis, he faced off against Tampa Bay’s Arozarena who put 21 homers on the board in his initial two minutes. Unfortunately, he was only given 30 seconds of bonus time due to the distance of his hits. Guerrero on the other hand, managed to earn himself a full minute of bonus time due to the fact that he reached 440 feet on two occasions.
“Obviously, the power that he has was incredible,” Arozarena said through a translator. “For me, I felt good going into that round. But also he was able to get a minute of bonus time. I only had the 30 seconds of bonus time.” Interestingly, Arozarena had the most overall homers across the three rounds with 82 compared to Guerrero’s 72, and the most distance at 33,077 feet, however, it wasn’t to be. Back in the Derby for the first time in four years, Guerrero was clearly on a mission after dismissing the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts 26-11 in the first round. The question now is what does the future hold for this hugely talented slugger? In his career so far he’s been an All-Star three times and was even named MVP of the game two years ago. Yet, one can imagine that the one thing that’s missing is a World Series ring, something even his father wasn’t able to get. Impressively, it appears the younger Guerrero is maintaining his focus on the here and now. “I’m a little bit too young to think about that right now,” he said. “When I get there, then I’ll think about it, I’ll see if I match my dad or was better than my dad or not.”