Minnesota Twins slugger Miguel Sano lost to projected favorite Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in last night’s Home Run Derby in Miami.
Sano dispatched AL Central rival Mike Moustakas of the Kansas City Royals in the first round and beat New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez in the seminfinals, but could not top his teammate in the finals.
“He’s an animal,” Sano said. “That’s all you can say about him. This is the first time I’ve seen Aaron Judge hit in (batting practice). I can tell you, he’s a monster.”
Sano hit 11 homers in the first two rounds and ten in the finals. He appeared to tire by the final round and did not find his rhythm until late in his at-bat. It took Judge 23 home runs to beat Justin Bour of Miami Marlins in the first round, but he easily topped Cody Bellinger with 13 and Sano with 11 in the final two rounds.
“I feel really happy about it. I had some fun out there. My heart feels really good,” Sano said before asking for a rematch next season. “I’ll start to work for next year, come back, and then — Aaron Judge.”
