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SEATTLE — Luis Robert Jr. had a simple message for his Home Run Derby pitcher, Chicago White Sox bullpen catcher Luis Sierra.
“Throw the ball in the middle and I’ll take care of the rest,” Robert said through an interpreter Monday afternoon.
The top seed in the eight-player field, Robert displayed the easy power that has made him one of the game’s rising stars. He advanced to the semifinals of the Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park, where he lost to Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena.
Robert hit 22 home runs in the semis to Arozarena’s 35. The two hugged after Robert completed his swings.
Robert hit 50 total homers in his entertaining two rounds.
Robert turned it up a notch when he had to in his opening-round matchup with Adley Rutschman.
The Baltimore Orioles catcher put on a show batting left-handed and then right-handed.
With his father Randy pitching, Rutschman bashed 27 homers. He hit 21 from the left side and then hit six from the right side during his 30-second bonus period.
Robert started slowly, but got rolling in the three-minute period that included a 470-foot blast.
He had 12 homers when he called timeout with 1:27 remaining. After his break, Robert continued to mash, with several “wows” from the crowd as he matched Rutschman’s total during his regulation period.
Because he hit two homers that went at least 440 feet, Robert had 60 seconds to hit one homer and advance. He did just that with 44 seconds remaining in the bonus period, moving on to face fellow Cuban Arozarena in the semifinals.
Arozarena was one of the players who convinced Robert to compete in the event.
“Can you imagine if we have to play against each other in the first round?” Robert pondered of facing Arozarena or another Cuban player, Adolis García, before the bracket was released July 5. “It will be fun.”
Arozarena topped García in the first round, setting up the meeting with Robert with a trip to the finals on the line.
Arozarena hit 24 homers in the first round. He was just warming up.
Arozarena put pressure on Robert, crushing 35 homers, 30 in regulation and five more in his 60-second bonus.
Robert hit 10 homers before calling his timeout with 1:27 remaining. He hit 11 more at the end of his regulation time. With a mammoth 484-foot homer among the two hit more than 440 feet, Robert had 60 seconds to make up a lot of ground.
He fell short on the total, but nonetheless impressed on a night he’ll remember.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the event, beating Arozarena 25-23 in the finals.
