Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier Wins Home Run Derby

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Despite crazy weather, yesterday’s revamped Home Run Derby came and went in spectacular fashion. And this was mainly because of the Reds’ Todd Frazier, who became the hometown hero by dramatically winning the derby for the Cincinnati crowd.

Todd Frazier Wins Home Run Derby

The new format created some dramatic tension, as batters had four minutes to hit as many home runs as possible — the time was shortened due to the inclement weather. On top of this, the batters also earned an extra 30 seconds if they hit a homer over 425 feet. And best of all, last year’s head-to-head setting returned and was enhanced by each batter’s limited time.

Needless to say, the new format worked, as fans were on their edge of their seat to see who would be the new champion. And Frazier did not disappoint, as he made his hometown crowd sweat through the proceedings: he waited until his last swing three separate times.

But by far his most exciting effort was during the championship round. When the Dodgers’ Joc Pederson — he defeated Manny Machado and Albert Pujols to get to the finals — cranked 14 home runs, Reds fans did not know if Frazier could top it.

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Yet Frazier was not feeling any pressure, as the crowd pushed him to victory: “Just hearing the crowd roar, call my name, adrenaline. And those last minutes of each round really picked me up to drive the ball out of the park a lot more.”

And despite starting slow, Frazier was able to tie Pederson with just ten seconds left. However, he was not able to defeat the Dodger during his initial at bat, but he did receive extra seconds for hitting shots over 425 feet. And he did not need a lot of time, as he crushed the derby-winning home run on his first swing.

Todd Frazier became the first Home Run Derby champion to win on his home field since the Chicago Cubs’ Ryne Sandberg did it at Wrigley Field in 1990. Frazier finishes tied for second with Pederson for the most home runs in a single derby with 39: they sit behind Bobby Abreu, who in 2005 hit 41.

Anthony Falco