LOS ANGELES (AP) — Washington Nationals star Juan Soto won his first home run derby Monday night, holding off Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez 19-18 in the final out.
Soto, 23, hit 53 total homers, beating each of his three opponents by a homer in the midseason show of power. Soto was locked in at the plate even after spending an hour earlier at Dodger Stadium answering repeated questions about his possible departure from the Nats after turning down a huge contract extension.
“It feels amazing. It feels tiring,” Soto said. “I just tried to concentrate to make the balls because I know I have the power.”
Soto defeated Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez 18-17 in the first round before outlasting 42-year-old Albert Puholz 16-15 to reach the final.
Soto then got off to a slow start as he hit second off the 21-year-old Mariners phenom in the final inning, failing to hit his first homer until his 10th swing. He eventually caught fire to win the spirited derby, which began with a display of on-field pyrotechnics that spooked the competitors.
Soto’s longest homer of the night traveled 471 feet, and he hit the game-winning 415-foot homer with 20 seconds left in overtime, then waved his bat in the air before being mobbed by other Dominican All-Stars.
Soto earns a $1 million prize and another highlight on his resume as his time in Washington likely comes to an end. The Athletic reported over the weekend that Soto turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract to remain with the Nationals and could be traded by the end of the month.
“I’m not even thinking about it right now,” Soto said as he lifted the trophy above his head. “I am a champion and I will be a champion for Nationals.”
Rodriguez signaled his arrival on baseball’s biggest stage with a dynamic three-run performance at Chavez Ravine, where he had yet to pitch for the Mariners. Only four players had hit 30 homers in a round at the Derby before Rodriguez did it in each of his first two rounds, and he finished the night with 81 of them.
His 32 dingers against Texas’ Corey Seager in the first round were the second-most in that round, and the rookie added 31 in the semifinals to edge two-time defending champion Pete Alonso, who had 23.
Pujols defeated top-seeded Kyle Schwarber in a thrilling first-round upset before Soto capped his night with a win that probably didn’t worry Pujols much, an idol of other Dominican stars like Soto and Rodriguez.
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