Juan Soto is the new Home Run Derby champion. The Washington Nationals outfielder out slugged Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez in the finals to claim the 2022 Home Run Derby title.
Soto used walk-off blasts in all three runs to win the Derby.
The win capped off a tumultuous couple of days for the 23-year old superstar. Soto arrived at the All-Star Game festivities in Los Angeles amid trade rumors following his latest rejected contract offer.
Fresh off the win, Soto was presented the Derby trophy and chain by rapper Bad Bunny.
ESPN’s Buster Olney asked about his future, Soto dismissed the question.
“Right now, I’m not even thinking about it,” Soto said. “I’m a champion and I will be a champion for the Nationals.”
Soto is the second Nationals player to win the Home Run Derby. Bryce Harper took home the trophy in 2018 during an epic showcase inside Nationals Park.
Coincidentally, it was the last memorable moment for Harper in a Nationals uniform. He signed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in free agency the following offseason.
Soto turned down a historic, 15-year, $440 million contract offer from the Nationals earlier this month. During the media session prior to the Derby, Soto expressed his frustrations over contract talks becoming public and trade rumors that followed.
But by Monday evening, Soto was laser focused on winning the Derby.
How Juan Soto won the Home Run Derby
In the first round, Soto made quick work of Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez. Ramirez led off the round with a modest 17 home runs, leaving the door open for the odds-on favorite Soto to make quick work of him.
Soto belted 18 home runs with time to spare during his three-minute regulation to advance to the next round. He finished off the round with an emphatic bat flip.
In the semifinals, Soto faced an unexpected opponent in 42-year old St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols.
After Pujols hit 15 home runs, Soto went the first 45 seconds without a homer. He picked up steam to finish with 13 in regulation. But finished the job with three quick homers during his earned bonus time to put Pujols’ Cinderella dreams to bed.
Soto faced the 21-year old Rodriguez in the finals. The two paired for the first Derby finals pitting players 23 years of age or younger.
Rodriguez reached the finals by dethroning two-time defending Derby champion Pete Alonso. Rodriguez blasted a total of 63 home runs through the first two runs. He became the first player to hit 30-plus home runs in each of the first two rounds.
In the finals, fatigue appeared to hit Rodriguez, as he hammered 18 homers while failing to earn the full one-minute bonus time. Soto overcame another slow start to hit 15 home runs in regulation.
Soto entered his extra time needing three to tie and four to win. He delivered with his third walk-off blast.
Soto is second-youngest Derby champion. At 23 years and 266 days, Soto is one day older than Juan Gonzalez (1993).
By winning the Derby, Soto earned a $1 million bonus. Ironically, money has been the headline that followed Soto to LA. His future in baseball will be the topic of conversation over the next couple of weeks.
For now, however, he’s only focused on being the 2022 Home Run Derby champion.
