The 2024 Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington features a Los Angeles Dodgers slugger for a second consecutive year.
Teoscar Hernández is set to participate in the derby for the first time in his career and it marks the 11th time a Dodgers player will take part in the event’s history, which began in 1985.
The Dodgers do not have an extensive history in the event, but did experience a Home Run Derby renaissance in the 2010’s. They were represented in eight of the ten years, including every season from 2014 to 2019.
They have not had much success in the derby as an organization with many first round exits, and no Dodgers player has ever won the event.
Joc Pederson has been their most successful player by far. In 2015, he was not only the first Dodgers player to make it out of the first round, but he also nearly won the whole thing.
Pederson ended up losing to Todd Frazier in the final round by one homer.
He was even better in 2019, but lost to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the semifinals despite hitting 39 home runs in the round. No Dodgers player has reached the finals in the years since Pederson in 2015.
Other Dodgers who had some derby success include Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger, but neither went all that far in the event.
Muncy participated in the 2018 Home Run Derby at Nationals Park and eliminated Javier Báez in the first round (17-16), but was knocked out by eventual champion Bryce Harper in the semifinals (13-12).
Bellinger took his cuts in the 2017 Home Run Derby at Marlins Park and defeated Charlie Blackmon in the first round (15-14), but was eliminated by the eventual champion Aaron Judge in the semifinals (13-12).
Teoscar Hernández picks Dino Ebel to pitch
Hernández explained why he will be having Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel pitch to him on Monday at Globe Life Field.
Ebel has thrown in a Home Run Derby on four occasions, including most recently in 2019 to Pederson. He most notably pitched to Vladimir Guerrero Sr. in 2007 during his stint with the Los Angeles Angels.
Prior to the Dodgers facing the Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon, Hernández resumed Home Run Derby preparations with Ebel. It represented the second day Hernández and Ebel went through the practice of taking swings.
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