When it was announced last week that 31-year-old Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández had agreed to participate in the 2024 Home Run Derby in advance of Tuesday’s Mid-Summer Classic, there wasn’t a Dodger fan on the planet who didn’t say (or at least think) ‘Well, there’s your winner.’

…and they were right.

On Monday evening in front of an announced Globe Life Field crowd of 38,578 in Arlington, TX, the extremely popular Cotui, Dominican Republic native and now two-time All-Star slugged 49 home runs, including 14 in the final round, off of Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, besting Kansas City Royals All-Star infielder Bobby Witt Jr.

“Everybody says that I have an easy swing, easy power,” Hernández told Dodgers Insider‘s Cary Osborne. “When I hit the ball, the ball jumps. But it’s nothing that I put in my head. I just want to be under control, to be able to control my body the way I want – to control it and to do the things that I know are going to work in the game.

“I try to be calm, try to be patient, stay focused, and just control my emotions. I think that’s the key when you control emotions, you can control your body, and your body works all together. And that’s, I think, why I create a lot of power when I hit the ball,” the humble Dodgers outfielder added.

Hernández is the first Dodger to win the Home Run Derby and seventh Dominican-born player to do so. In addition to receiving one of baseball’s most coveted – and recognizable – trophies, Hernández also picked up a cool $1 million.

Well done, Teo!

Play Ball!

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