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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dawns a Teoscar Hernández Blue Jays jersey as former teammate wins Home Run Derby

Originally posted on Bluejaysnation | By Brett Holden | Last updated Jul 15, 2024 11:30 PM ET

Former Toronto Blue Jay and current Los Angeles Dodger Teoscar Hernandez has won the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby.

This year’s Home Run Derby debuted a new set of rules. The first round was a free-for-all; no more matchups, just all eight hitters swinging for the fences. The top four hitters advanced to the semi-finals where they would be seeded and placed into matchups.

In his first round, Teo smacked 19 homers to just squeak into the semis as the number four seed where he would face Philadelphia Phillies slugger Alec Bohm.

Hernandez kicked off the semi-final face-off with Bohm crushing 14 home runs. Bohm struggled at the start of his round, smacking only three long balls before taking his timeout. But Bohm didn’t exactly roll over and take it; needing at least 11 more homers, Bohm went on an absolute run, taking it down to his final swing of the bonus round. Bohm ripped his final ball just foul over the pole, forcing a swing off.

Teo just missed his first swing but would crush the final two into the seats, putting the pressure on Bohm. After missing his first swing, Alec Bohm would make it close, crushing his second swing. But it wouldn’t be enough, skying his final swing and clinching the Final for Teoscar Hernandez.

Teoscar Hernández gets hot after receiving advice from Vladdy. #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/b1XnL19ZfQ

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 16, 2024

Entering the final with 35 home runs, Teo faced off against Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. who was fresh off a 17-12 win over José Ramirez.

After one of the most electric introductions in Home Run Derby history, Teo started a little slow, without hitting a home run in his first two minutes. But, boy did he heat up, hitting 11 home runs in his final 90 seconds and adding three more in his bonus round, including one to a guy in a Bobby Witt Jr. jersey.

Now, it was up to Bobby Witt Jr. to hit 14 or more home runs. A slow start didn’t deter Bobby, bringing the derby within three for his bonus round. However, the bonus round didn’t go the way Bobby would have wanted to start, recording outs on his first two swings. Down to his final out, Witt Jr. fired a ball over 425 feet to earn one more out.

Next swing: Gone. One run ball game.

Next swing: Flyout. One out remaining.

Down to his final out, Bobby Witt Jr. swings at a high and outside pitch, and he crushes it. Bobby, Teoscar, and the crowd watch the pitch fly as it looks like it’s about to leave the yard… and smack… right off the base off the wall, 409 feet. Just short of the home run and Bobby is out.

Teoscar Hernandez wins the 2024 Home Run Derby.

It came down to the last swing!!!

What a thrilling ending to the #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/pvlS2MAekz

— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2024

Teo becomes the 7th Dominican to win the Home Run Derby, the last one was Vladdy last year. Hernandez also becomes the first Dodger to win the Derby as well.

Speaking of Vladdy, while Teo was surrounded by Dodgers teammates like Tyler Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani, it was his former teammate who stole the show. Vladdy rocked a Hernandez jersey from his time with the Blue Jays and constantly cheered him on from the side, whistling and giving him advice in between swings, just like how it was in Toronto two years ago.

Vladdy crowned Teo as the new Champion as he handed him the “Derby Champ” chain as Teoscar Hernandez won one of the most entertaining Home Run Derbys we’ve ever witnessed.