Rookie Julio Rodriguez also came screaming onto the scene with 81 homers in his All-Star debut. The Mariners rookie hit 63 homers in the first two rounds before rounding out with 18 in the final against Soto, which Soto broke in his bonus time.
Pete Alonso hit an impressive 43 homers in his two rounds, but he ran into the Rodriguez buzzsaw and was ultimately routed in the semifinals.
Perhaps the most endearing story of the day was Albert Pujols. who eked his way out of the first round as the No. 8 seed in a swing-off against No. 1 seed Kyle Schwarber. Pujols finished with 20 home runs in the first round and gave the eventual champ Soto trouble in the semifinals, before Soto slammed the door.
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Most home runs in a round
It would be hard to forget the record for home runs in a round. It was set during an epic showdown between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Joc Pederson in the 2019 semifinals. Guerrero edged out Pederson after three swing-offs 40-39, after the two tied 29-29 at the end of regulation.
Guerrero would lose in the final to Alonso. Two years later, Alonso hit the third-most in a round, 35 at Coors Field, with Soto hitting 31. Alonso’s 35 are the most without swing-offs in a single round.
In the 2022 Home Run Derby, Julio Rodriguez hit 32 home runs in the first round, the most by any rookie in the history of the derby.
Most home runs in a year
Once again, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that all of these totals were compiled after 2014. But it does highlight some of the great showdowns of recent years.
Guerrero’s 91 homers in 2019 are the record, but to be fair to Alonso, he never got to hit first in a round and set a total. Guerrero, on the other hand, always had to go first as the No. 8 seed. In other words, Alonso was limited to 57 because he only had to reach cutoff numbers.
Alonso had more opportunities in 2021, but if he wins as the No. 2 seed this year, don’t expect to see anyone touching Guerrero’s record.
Through the first two rounds of the 2022 Home Run Derby, Rodriguez already ramped up to the third-most home runs in a single derby.
Most home runs in a career
It should come as no surprise that Alonso already holds the record, and this year will feature the No. 8 hitter on the list in Pujols. Alonso is padding his legacy, to a degree, as he seeks his third straight title.
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While it’s somewhat disappointing to not have Pederson and Guerrero around to improve on their impressive numbers, Soto can crack the top 10 with a strong performance
While Alonso will be out to make history and Soto will be looking to put on a show, first-timers such as Rodriguez and Ramirez will try to make their mark and Seager will look to improve upon his 2016 performance (he was knocked out in the first round by Mark Trumbo). With all that in play, expect lots of fireworks at Chavez Ravine on Monday night.
