With his father pitching to him and his brother catching, the slugger nicknamed Big Dumper survives the first round via tiebreaker, defeats Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz in the semifinals and outlasts Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, 18-15, in the final round.
Seattle’s Cal Raleigh won his first All-Star Home Run Derby after leading the big leagues in long balls going into the break, defeating Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, 18-15, in the final round Monday night.
The Mariners’ breakout slugger nicknamed Big Dumper advanced from the first round on a tiebreaker by less than an inch over the Athletics’ Brent Rooker, then won his semifinal, 19-13, over Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, whose 513-foot first-round drive over Truist Park’s right-center field seats was the longest of the night.
Hitting second in the final round, the 22-year-old Caminero closed within three dingers, took three pitches and hit a liner to left field.
Becoming the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title, Raleigh had reached the All-Star break with a major league-leading 38 home runs.
