SEATTLE — Julio Rodriguez may not have won the 2023 Home Run Derby, but he still made history in the process.
The 22-year-old Seattle Mariners center fielder hit 41 home runs in the first round of the derby at T-Mobile Park in Seattle Monday, setting the record for the most home runs in a single round in derby history.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. held the previous record of 40 home runs set back in 2019 during the second round of the derby, according to the Mariners.
Rodriguez easily made it past New York Mets’ Pete Alonso in the first round, nearly doubling Alonso’s 21 home runs.
“To say this place came unglued is an understatement,” the Mariners tweeted.
However, J-Rod lost steam in the second round. His 20 home runs fell just one short of Guerrero Jr.’s 21.
After the derby, Rodríguez said his mind was there in the second round but his body was not. His record-setting first round took everything out of him.
In the end, Guerrero Jr. went on to win the whole thing, beating Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena in the final round 25-23.
This was Rodriguez’ second straight year competing in the Home Run Derby. As a rookie Rodriguez nearly beat Juan Soto to claim the 2022 Home Run Derby crown, falling short in the final round. Even in the defeat, Rodriguez became the first player ever with multiple 30-home run rounds in a single. Rodriguez hit 81 home runs in last year's derby, the second-most homers in a single event of all time.
