MLB Home Run Derby review: Guerrero Jr. takes title in Seattle

David Schneidman Updated: Jul 11 2023 19:26 Published: Jul 11 2023 15:06

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took home the 2023 Home Run Derby title, defeating Tampa Bay Rays star Randy Arozarena in the final round at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington.

Guerrero hit a finals-record 25 home runs, while Arozarena hit 23.

This was Guerrero's second Home Run Derby appearance, and he became the first player to win the event after finishing as the runner-up in the previous year.

He also joined his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., as the only father-son duo to win the Home Run Derby.

2023 Home Run Derby Scores & Results

Final round

#6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays) def. #5 Randy Arozarena (Rays), 25-23

Round 2

#6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays) def. #7 Julio Rodriguez (Mariners), 21-20

#5 Randy Arozarena (Rays) def. #1 Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox), 35-22

Round 1

#6 Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays) def. #3 Mookie Betts (Dodgers), 26-11

#1 Luis Robert Jr. (White Sox) def. #8 Adley Rutschman (Orioles), 28-17

#5 Randy Arozarena (Rays) def. #4 Adolis García (Rangers), 24-17

#7 Julio Rodríguez (Mariners) def. #2 Pete Alonso (Mets), 41-21

J-Rod puts on hometown show

Mariners second-year star Julio Rodriguez put on a show for the hometown fans in Seattle, setting a Home Run Derby single-round record with 41 homers in Round 1.

The 2022 American League Rookie of the Year hit bomb after bomb in the opening round as T-Mobile Park was sent into a frenzy. Many of Rodriguez's shots were well over 400 feet and cleared the bleachers at his home park.

J-Rod hit 41 home runs on 59 swings in the first round, a mind-boggling 69.5% home run rate.

Arozarena nearly sets all-time mark

Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena fell short in the final round to Guerrero Jr., but nearly set an all-time derby record in the process.

He hit a total of 82 home runs, the second most ever hit in a single derby (Guerrero Jr. hit 91 in 2019). He hit a number of long home runs that landed in the upper deck, including one that was measured at 496 feet.