Toronto Blue Jays’ first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was only eight years old when his Hall of Fame father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., won Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby inside AT&T Park in San Francisco during the summer of 2007. Guerrero Jr. stood beside his father when he received the trophy.
On Monday (July 11), 16 years after his father’s win, Guerrero Jr. followed in his footsteps and earned his own MLB Home Run Derby title. It’s the first time in MLB history a father-son duo has won the competition.
“Proud and love for my son,” Guerrero Sr. tweeted after his son’s victory inside T-Mobile Park in Seattle. “Congratulations, Vlad Jr!”
Guerrero Jr., who was born in Canada and is of Dominican descent, won the 2023 title by holding off Tampa Bay Rays’ left fielder Randy Arozarena in the Derby’s final round, 25-23. Guerrero Jr. reached the finals by beating L.A. Dodgers’ Mookie Betts in the first round, 26-11, and Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez in the semifinals, 21-20.
“I feel very happy,” Guerrero Jr., 24, said after the competition. “I always believed in God, that he would guide me through this. I’m just happy to be in this moment right now.”
Guerrero Jr. participated in the Derby in 2019 where he hit a record 40 home runs in the second round but lost in the final round to New York Mets’ Pete Alonso. Although he wasn’t sure he wanted to compete again, he took the advice of his family and decided to give it another shot this year.
“When my family pushes me to do something, usually good things happen, he told ESPN.
Watch the entire 2023 MLB Home Run Derby final round between Guerrero Jr. and Arozarena below.