Vlad Guerrero Jr. hits dingers for days as Home Run Derby records tumble

Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby hit new heights as a rookie with a famous name smashed records and almost 11 kilometres of dingers.

Mets rookie Pete Alonso might have won the All-Star Home Run Derby but it was another rookie that stole the show with a historic, record-smashing performance.

That man is Vlad Guerrero Jr., the son of the 2007 winner, Vlad Guerrero.

The 20-year-old Guerrero Jr smashed all the records and did so as the youngest participant in the event’s history.

The Blue Jays third baseman whacked an astonishing 91 home runs, crushing the previous record of 61, which has been held since 2016 by Giancarlo Stanton.

Live stream the 2019 MLB All-Stars Game with ESPN on KAYO on your TV, Mobile, Tablet or Laptop. Get your 14 day free trial.

His record-setting day began in the first round as he belted an astonishing 29 dingers, eclipsing the record set by Josh Hamilton in the 2008 Derby — and man could this kid swing a bat.

29 homers in the first round for Vlad Guerrero Jr.

That's a #HRDerby record for a single round 💪 pic.twitter.com/hyN1jLp1Ub

— ESPN (@espn) July 9, 2019

The 113 kilogram rising star unleashed his violent swing on a host of unfortunate baseballs that were hammered out of the ball park.

Guerrero was slated to take on reigning NL MVP and top seed Christian Yelich in the first round, but Yelich was a late out with a back injury and Oakland third baseman Matt Chapman replaced him.

Unlucky for Chapman, because Guerrero Jr left baseball analysts across America in awe with his performance.

Ryan McKinnell of ESPN Las Vegas called the performance “otherworldly” while another analyst suggested it was a crime against baseballs.

This is otherworldly. I've never seen anything like this. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. cannot be stopped. #HRDerby

— Ryan McKinnell (@RyanMcKinnell) July 9, 2019

What Vlad Guerrero Jr. is doing to these baseballs should be illegal #HRDerby

— Ted Goldberg (@TedGoldbergTV) July 9, 2019

After that epic first round Guerrero defeated Los Angeles Dodger Joc Pederson in a semi-final that required three extra swing(ings) and will go down in derby lore.

They were tied 29-all after their four-minute round and then again following a 60-second session. Guerrero and Pederson then each homered once when given three swings, forcing another best-of-three round.

Guerrero hit two, screaming at his second shot, which barely cleared the 19-foot high wall in left. Pederson couldn’t match up, hitting a grounder on his final cut before both players shared an exhausted embrace near home plate as the fellow All-Stars stood and applauded like regular fans.

Then came the final against Alonso, unfortunately for Guerrero he had tired noticeably by the time of the decider.

Needing 23 homers to beat Guerrero, Alonso connected for a homer to left-centre before flipping his bat high into the air and hugging his pitcher, cousin Derek Morgan. Alonso was then swarmed by the NL All-Stars who were treated to a power display unlike any in the event’s history.

Can't beat Pete! #HRDerby. pic.twitter.com/BdLNgtP952

— All-Star Game (@AllStarGame) July 9, 2019

“This was surreal,” Alonso said.

Alonso is the second rookie to win outright, following Yankees star Aaron Judge in 2017. He’s also the first Mets player to win the derby since Darryl Strawberry shared the title with Wally Joyner in 1986.

Alonso showed some dramatic flair with two nailbiting wins to reach the final against Guerrero. He nipped Cleveland’s Carlos Santana 14-13 in the first round and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. 20-19 in the second to setup a showdown with the 20-year-old Guerrero.

—With AP

Originally published as Vlad Guerrero Jr. hits dingers for days as Home Run Derby records tumble