Big Papi — who has been nothing short of amazing for the Red Sox this year — continued what's been an incredible run so far.
It's hard to imagine that this is the same guy who people were calling for to be benched or even released just a few months ago.
It's really a credit to him that he stayed confident and continued to work hard and you'd be hard-pressed to find someone more deserving of an honor like this.
After receiving his award for the Derby, Ortiz had nothing but good things to say about runner-up Hanley Ramirez along with dedicating his win to the late Jose Lima.
Hopefully for the Red Sox, Ortiz' hot bat can carry through the All-Star break and help carry the Red Sox down the stretch.
10:39 p.m.: Hanley Ramirez can only muster five home runs in the
finals, so that means that David Ortiz has won his first career Home
Run Derby title.
10:26 p.m.: When the game is on the line, who else do you want at the plate besides David Ortiz?
While it may not be an actual game, Ortiz just put on a great showing late in the contest.
Big Papi just set the tone for the finals by hitting 11 more home runs.
Aggregate score no longer matters, so if Hanley Ramirez wants to stay alive, he's going to need at least 10 to tie.
Baseball fans are really getting a glimpse of vintage David Ortiz tonight. He's driving the ball extremely well and the ball is just exploding off of his bat.
10:19 p.m.: David Ortiz will hit first in the Home Run Derby finals.
10:15 p.m.: It would be tough to believe that the long lay-off didn't affect Corey Hart.
After blasting 13 home runs in the first round, Hart couldn't get a single round-tripper in the second round.
It seemed he just couldn't find a rhythm in his second round after sitting for so long.
With him exiting though, it means Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz will face Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez in the finals.
10:08 p.m.: Corey Hart steps in needing eight home runs to stay
alive. For the record, Hart ended his first round at 8:40 p.m. He's
been sitting for quite a long time and that may be a factor.
10:04 p.m.: Hanley Ramirez hasn't exactly locked up a spot in the finals but he's guaranteed that his night is not over yet.
Ramirez ended the second round on a tear, hitting 12 home runs in his second round, giving him 21 for the competition.
The 21 total dingers tie him with Big Papi. Corey Hart still has to hit and he'll need at least eight home runs to ensure that he won't be eliminated.
If there's a tie at all, there will be a "swing-off" to decide who advances.
9:52: Miguel Cabrera is done. His 12 total home runs obviously
are less than David Ortiz' 21, and Corey Hart hit 13 in the first round
alone.
The home runs he did hit though were impressive. He found the rock pile again in left-center and hit home runs of 474 and 479 feet.
With his exit, my pick to win is gone. I should have known I was in trouble when I found out that Joe Morgan picked him as well.
9:45 p.m.: David Ortiz just put on an incredible showing in the second round.
Big Papi hit eight in the first round, but followed that up with 13 in the second round and they certainly weren't cheap ones either.
Ortiz was hitting rockets all over the ballpark sending one of his home runs 462 feet.
Although he was the first player to go in the second round, it his 21 total home runs will probably have a very good chance of getting him to the finals.
9:37 p.m.: David Ortiz will kick off the second round of the Home Run Derby.
9:30 p.m.: At the risk of jinxing it, this has been an incredible home run derby through one round at least.
Miguel Cabrera just capped off a great first round hitting seven home runs to get himself into the second round. His furthest home run traveled 476 feet and landed in the rocks that the Angels put in behind the left-center field fence.
The top two aggregate scores of the final four contestants will determine who will face off in the finals.
Those four contestants are: David Ortiz, Corey Hart, Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera.
9:17 p.m: It's been a pretty good night so far for the players who are or who have been in the Red Sox organization.
Former Sox farmhand Hanley Ramirez just put on quite the show, hitting nine home runs while displaying an absolutely beautiful swing.
Many say Ramirez — when he wants to be — is the best player in all of baseball. When he puts on shows like he just did, it's tough to debate that argument.
On a side note, ESPN or Major League Baseball needs to do whatever they can to get Will Ferrell in to more coverage. He was an absolute riot while visiting the ESPN broadcast with his incredibly hilarious Harry Caray impression.
9:10 p.m.: David Ortiz took his time, peppered the right field seats and ended up hitting eight home runs.
He said a few days back that his swing was the type of swing that is suited for the home run derby.
He was swinging hard and it paid off for him. He's guaranteed to advance and sits in second place behind Corey Hart.
Former Red Sox and current Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez is up next.
8:55 p.m.: Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is just moments away from stepping in and starting his fourth career Home Run Derby.
Ortiz as Red Sox fans know has turned things around dramatically this year.
On a team riddled by injuries, Ortiz has been one of — if not — the main reason for the Sox' ability to stay in it this year.
8:53 p.m.: Matt Holliday just showed everyone how you finish a round.
Holliday came on strong at the end, hitting four of his five home runs with one out to go.
Most impressively, Holliday hit a ball 497 feet that may or may not have landed yet.
8:46 p.m.: Alex Rodriguez said that Nick Swisher was "So excited" for the Home Run Derby tonight. That excitement may have cost him.
Swisher started his first round pretty quickly, but seemed to almost tire some towards the end of the round. He finished with four. It might be enough to advance to the next round, but I'm not counting on it.
8:42 p.m.: Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher steps in to the box while Alex Rodriguez joins the ESPN telecast. Oh boy.
8:40 p.m.: Corey Hart. Wow.
The Brewers outfielder just went off and I mean went off. He finished his first round 13 home runs.
He's obviously the early leader with 13, but the most impressive thing was how he did it.
He was just launching balls all over Angel Stadium averaging an astounding 433 feet per homer.
He also has the longest home run of the Derby, hitting one 464 feet. It looked like he was at the driving range hitting Big Berthas out there.
8:30 p.m.: The Brewers' Corey Hart is next up, and the
anticipation is mounting waiting for the answer to the question: "Will
he wear his sunglasses at night?"
Alright, well maybe he actually will considering it's still late afternoon in Anaheim, but what we do know is that Hart is having a breakout year.
He's put up solid numbers his entire career, but his 2010 campaign is promising to be his best. He's taking 21 home runs and 65 RBI into the All-Star break for the Brew Crew.
8:28 p.m.: Vernon Wells certainly didn't waste much time getting in and out of the box, virtually swinging at everything.
Representing the Blue Jays — the team with the most home runs in the majors — Wells did a little bit better than Young, but not much.
He ended his round with two, with one of them traveling 428 feet.
8:22 p.m.: Chris Young just showed why hitting first in the Home Run Derby really isn't much fun.
Young was only able to muster one 410-foot home run. But, at least he can say he had the lead in the Home Run Derby.
Blue Jays outfielder Vernon Wells is up next.
8:15 p.m.: We're officially underway with Chris Young set to take the first hacks.
Young is one of the better-kept secrets in the bigs. Just this year, he's hit 15 home runs all while swiping 17 bags.
He busted on to the scene with 32 homers in his first full season with the Diamondbacks, but he's seen his home run numbers decrease since that 2007 season.
8:10 p.m.: Bo knows ceremonial first pitches. The 1989 All-Star
Game MVP, Bo Jackson, just threw out the first pitch. Chris Young will
be our first batter tonight.
8:05 p.m.: Either David Ortiz is not a fan of the band Train, or he is simply locked in and focused.
ESPN caught Big Papi not paying much attention to the band's performance of hit-single "Hey, Soul Sister" just minutes before we're about to get underway. He did not look thrilled.
ESPN's Chris Berman is about to introduce the eight contestants for tonight.
7:55 p.m.: We're just minutes away from the start of the Derby, so with that, it's time for a prediction.
I'm going to go with Miguel Cabrera. Sure, it's not really going out on a limb much at all, but he's been arguably the best hitter in baseball to this point, so why not?
Don't sleep on Matt Holliday and Corey Hart, both who are both pretty hot at this point.
Who's your pick to win this year's Derby?
6:50 p.m.: Both All-Star teams are taking batting practice right now, as we approach the one-hour countdown for the 2010 Home Run Derby.
MLB.com has a pretty interesting article detailing the strategies of tonight's long-ball launchers.
Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera though summed it up best saying: "My plan is go deep. Left field. Right field. Center field. Everywhere."
5:15 p.m.: We're getting closer and closer to the start of the 2010 Home Run Derby, but first a little All-Star Game news to report on.The starting lineups were announced this afternoon for Tuesday's game.
Rays pitcher David Price will get the ball to start for the AL. Some thought Red Sox lefty Jon Lester could have been in the running for the starting nod.
And for the NL, there was a little less suspense. Manager Charlie Manuel will go with Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez on the mound.
You can find the entire starting lineups for both leagues here.
4:10 p.m.: With the Home Run Derby just four hours away, it's worth taking a look at the guys who will be serving them up for the game's best sluggers tonight.
Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz is one of only two participants tonight who will not be bringing his own pitcher for the Derby.
Among those taking the mound tonight are Yankees coach Tony Pena who will pitch to late entry Nick Swisher. Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday will have his brother Josh — a coach at Vanderbilt — pitching to him.
Stay tuned for periodical updates throughout the night culminating with live blog coverage of the Derby beginning at 8 p.m. ET.
9:00 a.m.: In a baseball season that's been dominated by the pitcher, perhaps the Home Run Derby is the revenge of the hitters. Monday night, some of the game's best sluggers take the field in Anaheim to try and do what they do best — hit the long ball.
Red Sox fans will have something to look forward to in this one, as slugger David Ortiz will be making his fourth appearance in the derby. He's never won the contest — in fact he's never escaped the second round — but he has launched 36 home runs in the three he contests in which he's participated.
Here are the rest of the sluggers participating.
American League
David Ortiz
Miguel Cabrera
Nick Swisher
Vernon Wells
National League
Chris Young
Corey Hart
Matt Holliday
Hanley Ramirez
