STRONGEST SLUGGER

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Seattle’s Cal Raleigh defeated Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero 18-15 in Monday’s final to become the first catcher to win Major League Baseball (MLB) Home Run Derby.

The 28-year-old American switch-hitter, who leads MLB with 38 homers this season, won $1 million by capturing the special event for sluggers at Atlanta’s Truist Park ahead of Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game.

“It means the world,” Raleigh said.

“I could have hit zero home runs and had just as much fun. I just can’t believe I won. It’s unbelievable.”

Raleigh, who advanced from the first round by less than an inch on a longest homer tiebreaker, had his father Todd pitching to him and his brother Todd Jr. as catcher.

“It’s just a great accomplishment and I think that every dad... this is what they dreamed about,” Todd Raleigh Sr. said. “To see it come true for your son is unbelievable.”

Cal was ignited by his brother’s encouragement.

“He was hyping me up the whole time,” the Mariners slugger said.

“Just got me going and I think that’s why I got good spurts during the Derby.”

“It was a lot of fun. It was an awesome experience.”

Raleigh, one shy of the MLB record 39 homers by Barry Bonds before an All-Star break, is on pace to set a one-season record for MLB homers by a catcher.

The final pitted the Rays’ Caminero, a 22-year-old Dominican third baseman using a bat with his image on it, against Raleigh. It featured two minutes or 27 pitches plus earned bonus time.

Raleigh smashed 18 homers, setting a tough target for Caminero, who smacked homers off seven of the first 10 pitches he faced and 14 homers in all after regulation time.

Needing four more to force a swing-off, Caminero could add only one in the extra session and when his final hit fell short of the outfield wall, Raleigh had the title.

Caminero, who would have been the youngest Derby winner, earns less for the season salary, $764,000, than Raleigh took home.

In the knockout semi-finals, Caminero smashed eight homers in less than a minute to advance over Minnesota outfielder Byron Buxton’s total of seven.