LOS ANGELES -- José Ramírez connected for a home run on the first swing of his first T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday night, but the Guardians third baseman found his groove too late to advance past the first round. A four-time All-Star competing in the Derby for the first time, Ramírez was ousted by fellow Dominican Republic native Juan Soto in the first round by a score of 18-17.
Ramírez batted first and had trouble elevating the ball early. He had just four homers when he took his timeout at the 1:43 mark. Though Ramírez caught fire and finished his regulation period with 15 homers before adding two more in bonus time, Soto was able to exceed his mark with a buzzer-beater as his regulation time expired.
“It was a great emotion to be a part of that,” Ramírez said afterward through interpreter Agustin Rivero. “I’m really happy with myself being able to participate.”
The fifth seed in a field of eight, Ramírez was the only participant in this year’s Derby to have to decide which side of the plate to bat. He was leaning to the right-hand side (not literally) upon arrival to L.A. but did not make his final decision to stick with that side until he got to the field and took batting practice.
On the surface, it was a strange choice. Just three of Ramírez’s 19 homers this season and 51 of his 182 career home runs have come from the right-hand side. He has hit a homer every 26.5 plate appearances from the right-hand side, versus every 23.3 from the left-hand side. But it is Ramírez’s belief that, were the opportunities even, he would hit more homers as a righty than a lefty.
“I feel like I’m stronger on the right side,” he said. “I just get more views up from the left side on a normal basis.”
Alas, the left-handed-hitting Soto had more power in this round.
Ramírez was the sixth Cleveland player to participate in the Derby and was trying to become the first to win it. No switch-hitter has won the Derby outright (Ruben Sierra was a co-winner with Eric Davis in 1989). Double-A Akron hitting coach Junior Betances, who had an impact on Ramirez’s development in his early years of pro ball, threw to Ramírez in the Derby.