Washington Nationals star Juan Soto won the 2022 MLB Home Run Derby, knocking off Mariners rookie Julio Rodríguez in the finals. It’s the first Derby title for Soto, who has been the subject of trade rumors in recent days.
Rodríguez had a bit of a coming out party before running into Soto in the finals. He ended Pete Alonso’s quest for a three-peat in the second round. Alonso had won the event in 2019 and 2021 (there was no Home Run Derby in 2020) and was looking to become the first player ever to win three Derbies in a row. Alonso, however, couldn’t match Rodríguez’s 31 homers.
Cardinals legend Albert Pujols stole the show earlier in the night. The 42-year-old pulled off a first-round upset of Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber, the top seed in the event, and had both fans and fellow players behind him.
