Yankees’ Rookie Aaron Judge Rules Home Run Derby Field
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge easily defeated Minnesota's Miguel Sano in the championship round of the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby on Monday night in Miami. The Bronx Bomber -- the first rookie to win the derby crown -- hit 11 home runs in 15 swings, clinching the title with an upper-deck shot to center field with 1:53 left on the clock. Sano managed 10 home runs, but all that garnered him was second place.
Marlins sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Bour each lost to Yankees hitters, with
New York catcher Gary Sanchez topping defending champion Stanton with a 17-16 first round, while Judge beat Bour 23 to 22 in an astonishing first-round battle.
Judge also beat fellow rookie Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers in the semifinals, including a 513-foot shot -- the longest of the night.
Judge's historic victory further established the 25-year-old outfielder as MLB’s predominant slugger, surpassing the hometown Marilns’ bats, as well as fellow rookie Bellinger.
Judge will start for the American League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.