With father pitching, Bryant savors 1st Derby

CINCINNATI -- Cubs rookie Kris Bryant hit nine home runs in the first round of the Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders on Monday at Great American Ball Park, but the slugger accepted an early exit as he was bested by Albert Pujols of the Angels.

Pujols homered to left field on his final swing to advance to the semifinals and knock out Bryant, whose longest home run was his second of the competition, measuring at 462 feet. Todd Frazier of the Reds was the eventual winner, defeating the Dodgers' Joc Pederson in the final.

• Deep goes Frazier! Reds star KOs Derby field

"It was a lot of fun," Bryant said. "I mean, I went up against Albert Pujols, who has had a Hall of Fame career. I have nothing but good things to say about tonight. I just really wanted to have a good time."

Bryant was hitting off his father, Mike, who played Minor League ball as an outfielder in the Red Sox's organization for two seasons in the early 1980s. The 56-year-old estimated that he still throws between 300-400 pitches a day as a hitting instructor.

Video: Kris Bryant's father, Mike, joins IT

"We've talked about this for years," Mike Bryant said. "I said, 'Kris, if you ever make it to the big leagues and they put you in the Home Run Derby as an All-Star, you've got to let me throw to you.' I've been preparing for this for a long time."

Bryant hit his first homer 30 seconds in and called time after four homers and two minutes. He added one, a 425-foot shot, in bonus time.

"Just to have fun with my dad and hit the ball in the air, that was my only strategy," Bryant said. "I was really happy that I just got one. I didn't want to be the guy that didn't get any. Everybody homered, everybody had fun, and I got the chance to meet some really cool people. I can't say enough about tonight."

Video: HRD Rd 1: Bryant hammers a 462-foot home run

Making his Home Run Derby debut just 87 days after his big league debut, shattering a previous record set by Evan Longoria (93 days), Bryant has hit 12 homers this year and was the No. 8 seed in the contest.

He faced a tough assignment against Pujols, who leads the Majors with 26 homers and has hit 546 in his 15-year career.

"Not overwhelming at all; I just wanted to go out there and have fun. I did that," Bryant said. "I think that's what everyone wanted to do, and put on a good show at the same time, hit some homers. And we all did that."

• First out of Derby gate, Rizzo enjoys format

Bryant's Cubs teammate, Anthony Rizzo, also sustained a first-round knockout. Rizzo hit eight homers and was defeated by Josh Donaldson of the Blue Jays, who cracked nine.

"I did beat [Rizzo], so I guess I kind of have bragging rights," Bryant said.

Video: Rizzo, Bryant on All-Star honors, Cubs' makeup

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