MLB Home Run Derby: A Latino Wins The Home Run Derby, Again! [VIDEO]

Latin American, Yoenis Cespedes became the first two-time defending Home Run Derby champion since Ken Griffey Jr. did it in 1998 and 1999. Cespedes needed a first round swing off against Oakland Athletics teammate, Josh Donaldson just to make it out of the first round, but once he got going, he was unstoppable as he slugged over 30 home runs in total. The Cuban put on quite the show as he slugged 9 home runs in the final round.

The MLB Home Run Derby presented by Taco Bell got off to a wet start on Monday, after an hour rain delay left weather conditions a little less than ideal for the top sluggers of the game.

For the first time in Home Run Derby history, 10 hitters competed but were given only 7 outs instead of the usual ten.

Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier got the competition started with a meager two home runs. His brother, a former minor league player with the Marlins was pitching for him, but the rain proved to be a burden for the young slugger.

Hometown hero, Brian Dozier who plays for the Minnesota twins where the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game is being held, had every fan at Target Field on their feet as he also crushed two home runs. Similar to Frazier, his brother who was a former minor league pitcher was also pitching to the hometown boy.

Dominican born Jose Bautista dominated the first round of the derby with 10 home runs. The first round was disastrous for Cuba’s Yasiel Puig who was the only participant to hit zero home runs.

Puerto Rican American, Giancarlo Stanton, the betting favorite to win the derby amongst Las Vegas odds makers, made it to the semifinals before he was eliminated by Frazier. Although he didn’t win the Home Run Derby, he did have the farthest hit home run at a projected distance of 510 ft.

The finals came down to surprise youngster, Todd Frazier who must have thought after he only hit two home runs in the first round that he would be eliminated, and the defending champion, Yoenis Cespedes.

Cespedes rose to the occasion once again and had predicted earlier that it would be difficult to steal the Home Run Derby crown from him when he tweeted this before the competition: