CHICAGO - Ryan Vilade took quite a liking to Wrigley Field on his first-ever trip to Chicago.
Vilade, an infielder out of Frisco (Texas) High School, outslugged seven other of the country's top prep players Saturday to win the Eastbay Home Run Derby, which preceded the ninth annual Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field.
"This was my first time being at Wrigley, and to be here for the first time and actually play on it is something I'll never forget," said Vilade, a right-handed hitter.
Vilade defeated the top two prep prospects for the 2017 Draft -- right-hander/shortstop Hunter Greene out of Notre Dame (Calif.) High School and outfielder Jordon Adell out of Ballard (Ky.) High School -- in a three-way contest after he and Adell each hit seven in the first round and two in a five-swing tiebreaker.
Vilade launched nine bombs in the two-minute final round, with several of his 18 total homers leaving The Friendly Confines.
"There were three great hitters in the final round," Vilade said. "All have potential to do big things, and I was just trying to square up some balls. Not necessarily hit home runs; just hit the ball hard and in the air. That was my game plan."
Greene, who hit a first-round-high eight, finished with the same total in the final. Adell, who hit Wrigley Field's left-field video board in the final, finished with six.