(LA) Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto won the Major League Baseball home run contest Monday night at Dodger Stadium.
Updated yesterday at 11:37 p.m.
Soto, competing for the second time in his career, defeated Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez 19-18.
Soto hit nine homers in the last two minutes allowed in the final. He added four in added time, getting the winning long ball with 19 seconds to go.
“It’s amazing, but also exhausting,” Soto said. I just tried to focus on hitting the balls well because I know I have power. »
Soto, the event’s fourth seed, is the second player in Nationals history to win the home run contest. Bryce Harper had achieved the feat in 2018, in Washington.
The 23-year-old Soto hit a total of 53 homers during the competition, beating each of his three opponents with a long pitch.
Soto advanced to the Finals after defeating 42-year-old St. Louis Cardinals veteran – and sentimental favorite – Albert Pujols by a score of 16-15. He also got the better of Cleveland Guardians player José Ramírez by a score of 18-17 in the first meeting.
Soto pocketed US$1 million for the win and added another highlight to his Nationals record as his time with the team may draw to a close. The Athletic reported over the weekend that Soto had turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract to stay in Washington and could be traded before the end of the month.
“Right now, I’m not even thinking about that,” he insisted, lifting the trophy above his head. I am a champion and I will be a champion for the Nationals. »
Rodriguez dazzled in the first two rounds and prevented New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso from becoming the first player in history to win the home run contest three times in a row.
The 21-year-old Rodriguez defeated Alonso 31-23 in the semifinals. In the opening round, the Mariners rookie won 32-23 over former Los Angeles Dodgers Corey Seager.
Only four players had managed to hit at least 30 homers in a round during this competition, but Rodriguez did it twice to end his night at work with 81 long pitches.
His 32 homers against Seager were the second-highest total in the history of the competition in the first round.
Pujols stunned first seed Kyle Schwarber in the opening round, needing overtime to win 20-19. The Dominican should not however be disappointed to have missed the final, while he is one of the idols of his compatriots Soto and Rodriguez.