MLB Home Run Derby: Live updates, tracker as Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr., Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández face off in finals

Live77 updates

• Bobby Witt Jr. vs. Teoscar Hernández for Home Run Derby crown

  It’s Teoscar Hernández vs. Bobby Witt Jr. in the finals. Hernández hit two home runs in a swing-off to Alec Bohm’s one to advance with 16 home runs in the semifinal round.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:41 PM EDT

  Another good use of a timeout by Hernández. He hit seven home runs in 14 pitches after his break to tally 11 in regulation. On to the bonus round.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:40 PM EDT

  Hernández takes a timeout with 14 pitches and 57 seconds left. He has four home runs.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:38 PM EDT

  Teoscar Hernández is up first. Each batter gets 27 pitches in the final.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:36 PM EDT

  Legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer is on the call to set up the final between Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernández. Nice touch.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:32 PM EDT

  Hernández wins swing-off, advances to finals vs. Witt

  A swing-off! We’ve seen a handful of these over the years, and they rarely disappoint. After Hernández and Bohm tied at 14 apiece in the semifinals, each player was given three swings — and three swings only — to add to his total.

  Hernández went first and homered on two of his three swings, putting the pressure on Bohm to match … which he did not. Credit to Bohm for showing out far more than many expected in this event, but Hernández does strike me as a more traditional power hitter befitting a finals matchup with Bobby Witt Jr.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:29 PM EDT

  Bohm goes out in swing-off

  The final contestant of the semifinal, Alec Bohm, started slowly. But after a timeout, he got things rolling and ended up tying Teoscar Hernández’s 14 homers, sending things to the always intriguing swing-off.

  In the end, Bohm didn’t have enough to take down Teo, who homered on two of his three swings before Bohm got just one swing-off dinger. Still, this was an impressive showing from Bohm, who has never been known for his power.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:23 PM EDT

  We have a swing-off. Alec Bohm and Teoscar Hernández are tied at 14 after Bohm failed to hit a home run in the bonus round. Winner gets Bobby Witt Jr. for the crown.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:21 PM EDT

  Alec Bohm turned it up after his timeout. 11 home runs in his final 23 swings to tie Teoscar Hernández. He needs just one in his bonus round to advance to the finals.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:19 PM EDT

  A slow start for Alec Bohm in the last at-bat of the semifinals. He has three home runs at his timeout with 23 pitches and 1:41 remaining.

  “That’s not very many,” he said during his break.

  It’s not.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:17 PM EDT

  Can Hernández hold off Bohm in the semis?

  Outside of Ozuna, it was Teoscar Hernández who launched the most majestic home runs of the first round, with multiple long balls traveling in excess of 440 feet and a max of 466.

  The moon shots continued in Round 2 but without as much consistency, and Hernández is now on shaky ground, with 14 total homers as Alec Bohm gears up for what could be quite a surprising run to the finals if he can surpass Hernandez’s modest total.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:15 PM EDT

  Teoscar Hernández adds one home run in his bonus round to finish with 14. Is it enough to fend off Alec Bohm? The winner advances to take on Bobby Witt Jr. for the Home Run Derby crown.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:13 PM EDT

  More here on the much-discussed national anthem.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:12 PM EDT

  Teoscar Hernández found his rhythm after his timeout. Finishes with 13 home runs in regulation before his bonus round.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:10 PM EDT

  Teoscar Hernández is up first in the second semifinal matchup and struggling to star. Three home runs in 18 swings before his timeout.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:08 PM EDT

  José Ramírez bows out in the semis

  A truly valiant effort from Ramirez, whose raw power might not remotely measure up to that of the rest of the field but whose ability to consistently deposit pulled fly balls just over the right-field fence was on display all the way until he bowed out against Bobby Witt Jr. in the semifinals.

  Most importantly, I’m glad Ramirez — a switch-hitter who was batting lefty — advanced to the semis so that the fans sitting in right field had another chance to snag some Derby dingers, considering that the bulk of the field is swinging righty.

  More importantly: Bobby Witt Jr. advances to the finals, which keeps the possibility of a storybook ending to tonight’s event in play.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:03 PM EDT

  Bobby Witt Jr. advances to finals

  Bobby Witt Jr. has advanced to the finals. José Ramírez comes up empty in his bonus round and finishes with 12 home runs, falling short of Witt’s 17 in a head-to-head semifinal matchup.

  Witt will take on the winner between Alec Bohm and Teoscar Hernández for the Home Run Derby crown.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 10:02 PM EDT

  José Ramírez finishes with 12 in regulation and is laboring through his swings. Needs five to tie and six to beat Bobby Witt in his bonus round.

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 9:58 PM EDT

  Bobby Witt Jr. keeps it rolling

  You can tell Bobby Witt Jr. really wants to win this thing in front of his family and friends in Texas. He put up another solid round of 17 homers in the semifinals but was clearly gassed.

  Will he be able to sneak past J-Ram?

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  Mon, July 15, 2024 at 9:58 PM EDT

  José Ramírez has some work to do. Four home runs with 25 pitches and a potential bonus round left at his timeout. He needs to beat Witt’s 17 to advance.