New York Yankees: Aaron Judge Wins the 2017 Home Run Derby

ROUND ONE

The night began with a matchup between Miguel Sano and Mike Moustakas.

Sano started slow but then got into a groove and finished with 11 homers.

Moose also got off to a slow start, but with about two minutes left, things started to click. Although Moustakas made a late charge, he came up short, falling to Sano 11-10.

The second matchup of the night turned out to be the biggest upset in Home Run Derby history.

Gary Sanchez, the lowest seeded contestant and the guy who got into beef with Logan Morrison about how he didn’t belong in the Derby, stepped into the box and put on a show.

He finished the round with 17 home runs, but with Giancarlo Stanton coming up, he was not yet safe.

Stanton took a while to get going but got hot as Karl Ravech called, “Here he comes, he is in a groove now!”

However, Stanton’s own strength was part of his undoing, as he would hit home runs and fly balls that would take too much time to come down. Stanton’s comeback came up just short as the defending champ fell to Sanchez, 17-16.

The next match up was between Charlie Blackmon and NL rookie sensation Cody Bellinger.

Blackmon hit 14 home runs, but none went more than 440 feet meaning he would miss out on the extra 30 seconds given to those who hit two home runs over 440.

Bellinger, with his father Clay throwing to him, answered with 13 home runs in regular time before hitting number 14 with the first swing of his 30-second bonus.

Continuing the drama, Bellinger connected with one with just ten seconds left in his extra time to advance to the next round.

The final matchup surprisingly proved to be the best of the night.

Justin Bour, one of the two Miami Marlins playing on their home field, put up 12 home runs with 1:24 remaining in regular time.

Then Giancarlo Stanton came over and fed him a doughnut.

Donuts must be the secret to Bour’s strength because, after that bite, Bour hit another ten homers in just 1:54 (including extra time).

But no mountain is too high to climb for the living legend, Aaron Judge. The man is made for Home Run Derbys.

Judge got underneath balls…still went out. He hit balls to dead center and right field…still went out. And then there were the ones he squared up…they went WAY out.

Judge beat Bour with his 23rd home run coming at the beginning of his extra time, capping off the most exciting Home Run Derby matchup we have seen in a while.