Dodgers: Joc Pederson Advances to Home Run Derby Semi-Final

In today’s first round of Major League Baseball’s 2019 Home Run Derby, Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson slugged an impressive 21 home runs.

Joc Pederson with 21 dingers for a combined 1.6 miles in home runs @mlb pic.twitter.com/2RWTns5QOX

— Daren Willman (@darenw) July 9, 2019

The average distance of which was 413 feet to go with an average 106 mph exit velocity. The 21 home runs were the most in a first round under the current derby format, defeating the previous record of 16. His 1st round opponent, Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman, couldn’t quite keep pace as he slugged just 16 home runs.

Joc Pederson advances to the semi-final and will face off against the winner between Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman and Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Guerrero posted an insane 29 home runs in his first round. Chapman was unable to come close to touching him as his derby pitcher — his dad — started throwing a little wild, resulting in only 13 home runs.

Update

Pederson’s 21 home runs was a record amount under the current derby format. However, it was a short lived record.  Toronto Blue Jays rookie, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. blew past the Pederson’s 21 to set the new bar at 29 in his defeat over Matt Chapman.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. advances to the second round of the Home Run Derby. He’ll face Joc Pederson next #BlueJays

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) July 9, 2019

Joc Pederson and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will go head-to-head in the second round of the Derby. The winner of which shall advance to the final round for a chance to win $1M.

Stay tuned here for updates.

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