Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Teoscar Hernandez was the last entry into the 2024 Home Run Derby, announcing his participation during an in-game interview while in left field against the Phillies on ESPN.
Teoscar Hernández announces his participation in this year's #HRDerby! pic.twitter.com/D2iNuBhmHO
— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2024
Thankfully, last was not least, as he put up 19 homers in the first round to advance to the semi-finals.
Teoscar then put up just 14 in the semi-finals, which seemed to put him at risk, but eventually survived in a swing-off against Alec Bohm to advance to the finals.
TO THE FINALS! #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/BH9sHltlSA
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 16, 2024
Michael Buffer showed up for the occasion to hype up the crowd.
Legendary boxing ring announcer Michael Buffer makes a guest appearance at the 2024 Home Run Derby to introduce the championship round matchup of Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernández.🔥 pic.twitter.com/N5VwzSU6PS
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 16, 2024
Hernandez had a much better round this time, as he put up 14 with a minute less, which put pressure onto Bobby Witt Jr.
It all comes down to this!
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2024
Can Bobby Witt Jr. hit more than 14 homers? Or will Teoscar Hernández be crowned the #HRDerby champ? pic.twitter.com/KXBnHuYaxb
Bobby was struggling toward the end of the timed round, but suddenly rallied to post 11 homers with just the final three or four outs to go in the untimed round. Eventually he was dramatically at 13 homers with one out left to go, proceeding to then hit a deep fly ball to center … that went off the wall and made Teoscar the champ!
It came down to the last swing!!! 😱
— MLB (@MLB) July 16, 2024
What a thrilling ending to the #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/pvlS2MAekz
Probably one of the best derbies you can get in this format, at least in terms of closeness, with multiple knockout rounds coming down to the last swings.
From there, the celebration was on.
Congrats on the cool $1 million in prize money that went to Teoscar!
——
Additionally, Teoscar got support from Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow…
Teoscar getting advice from his guys. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/l16GRrtRIA
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 16, 2024
…and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also showed love to his former teammate, along with Juan Soto.
Juan Soto said on Monday the player he would most want to play with that he's never played with is Shohei Ohtani.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) July 16, 2024
Then Soto joined the Dodgers huddle during Teoscar Hernández's Home Run Derby round with Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (wearing a Hernández jersey) pic.twitter.com/FceFni4fWV
After it was all over, Teoscar celebrated with his family.
Teoscar celebrating with his family. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/ypfBatz31P
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 16, 2024
Also, I missed the anthem … but uh, that was something.
Definitely one of the anthems of all time pic.twitter.com/LvSYSmR1wF
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 16, 2024
