6 Most Memorable Home Run Derby Moments Since 2015
Even if the charm of the Home Run Derby has dipped, the event remains a very entertaining piece of MLB All-Star Week.
As a precursor to the main event, eight sluggers head to the diamond for glorified batting practice. The result means little, of course, but there's a sense of pride that belongs to the champion.
And a whole lot of mammoth shots go home with fans.
In the last decade, we've watched Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge destroy some baseballs, Bryce Harper win in front of the hometown crowd and several more memorable Home Run Derby moments.
Stanton's Lasers in San Diego (2016)
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If you've watched MLB in the past decade, you're probably well aware of how hard Giancarlo Stanton can pummel a baseball.
That power was on full display in 2016.
Despite being in San Diego's Petco Park—one of the league's most pitcher-friendly stadiums—Stanton put on a show. He cruised to a title, belting 24 homers in the opening round before closing with 17 and 20.
Most impressively, Stanton smoked the 21 hardest-hit homers of the night and 18 of the 19 longest.
Aaron Judge's Moonshots (2017)
2 of 6One year later, Aaron Judge tested the limits of Marlins Park.
Judge, then a rookie sensation, had already clobbered 30 home runs heading into the 2017 All-Star break.
Unlike his regular season, however, what made his performance notable was not the volume of big flies.
Rather, the evening became a showcase of Judge's raw power. He unleashed four homers of 500-plus feet, becoming the first player of the Statcast era to surpass the mark.
Oh, and one of Judge's monster shots skimmed the stadium's roof, which has an apex of 216 feet. Not terrible.
Harper Wins in Washington (2018)
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People from all over the globe head to MLB All-Star Week, but the host team's fans naturally fill the bulk of the stadium.
Bryce Harper sent his Washington Nationals' supporters home happy in 2018.
Sporting a red, white and blue arm sleeve, he cruised to the finals against future Phillies teammate Kyle Schwarber. Harper provided a little drama with a torrid comeback, ripping nine homers in the final 55 seconds—and a walk-off bomb in bonus time.
Want a feel-good bonus? Harper's dad, Ron, pitched to him and had a chance to celebrate immediately.
Vlad vs. Joc (2019)
4 of 6This matchup didn't even determine the champion.
No, these sluggers—Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Joc Pederson—squared off during an epic semifinal that included three tiebreakers to determine who advanced in Cleveland.
Both players clobbered 29 homers in regulation and remained tied at 37 after the first attempt to find a winner. The deadlock hit 38 after the initial swing-off before Guerrero mashed two homers in the second and Pederson only answered with one.
Guerrero ended up falling in the finals, but Guerrero and Pederson gave the fans an incredible round.
Alonso Goes Back-to-Back (2021)
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The guy who edged Guerrero in 2019? Pete Alonso.
After the pandemic nixed the next year's event, the New York Mets standout successfully defended his crown in 2021. Alonso took full advantage of the thin, friendly air of Coors Field in Denver.
The first baseman launched 35 homers in the opening round en route to securing his second Home Run Derby crown.
Prince Fielder also won two derbies, but Ken Griffey Jr., Yoenis Cespedes and Alonso are the only back-to-back winners.
Like Father, Like Son (2023)
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Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez dazzled the hometown crowd, blasting 41 homers in 2023's first round. His performance absolutely could be deserving of its own section here.
Guerrero made a little history, though.
Back in 2007, his father hoisted the illustrious trophy. The younger Guerrero joined the club in 2023, rolling past Mookie Betts before eliminating Rodriguez and clipping Randy Arozarena in the finals.
Vlad Sr. and Vlad Jr. became MLB's first father-son duo to earn a Home Run Derby title.
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