The Braves’ Marcell Ozuna hit ’em hard, but couldn’t win tonight’s offensive arms race.
The All-Star week kicked off with the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, where Ozuna hit sixteen home runs in the first round. He was not able to advance further, however. He was topped by the Cleveland Guardians Jose Ramirez, Philadelphia Phillies Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals Alec Bohm, and Teoscar Hernandez from the L.A. Dodgers, who made it to the final four of the Derby.
Hernandez would emerge as the winner of this year’s Derby, after defeating Witt Jr. in the final round.
He later said he was “disappointed” at his elimination in the second round but “I feel happy,” Ozuna told reporters after he was eliminated. “It’s like batting practice but it’s a little harder because of the timing.” He was the only Brave offensive player to make the Derby this year.
Ozuma’s best homer tonight was a 473-foot rocket across Arlington’s Globe Life Field.
The home run derby was a warm-up for tomorrow night’s All-Star Game, which will feature the Braves’ Ozuna, Max Fried, and Chris Sale.