Brueser takes title in High School HR Derby

July 12th, 2016

SAN DIEGO -- After Major League players peppered the stands during the first round of the T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday night at Petco Park, two high school players competed in the finals of the High School Select Home Run Derby prior to the second round of the MLB event.
Nick Brueser (Chandler, Ariz.) belted four home runs to edge out Nicholas Storz (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who had three, in a one-round timed match for the title.
"I can't even put into words how awesome this is," Brueser said. "We're out here with the best of the best, it's a dream come true."
Brueser's second home run landed in the third deck of the Western Metal Supply Building in left field and he just cleared the wall in left-center with his fourth home run on the last swing of his round as time expired.
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Two of Storz's first three homers landed in the upper deck in left field, and he needed just one to tie Brueser with a little less than a minute left. He couldn't find the seats, though, taking his last three pitches, and was hit by one of them, as his round came to an end.
"I was just trying to take it step-by-step. I'm happy to be here, this was amazing," Storz said.
Storz and Brueser got to mingle with the All-Stars during their batting practice session before the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, and were on the field for the first round before they competed.

"I've talked to a few of them, all of them were really nice guys," Brueser said. "I'm just sitting back and trying to enjoy it and pick these guys' brains."
In the opening round of the high school derby before the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, the 6-foot-6 Storz hit eight home runs to gain the No. 1 seed heading into the finals. Brueser hit six to capture the No. 2 seed.

Storz and Brueser are on their way to potential Major League careers of their own. As participants of the high school derby, they have been selected as high as No. 12 overall in the MLB Draft over the last two seasons. But they relished the ability to compete with big leaguers in front of a sold-out crowd.
"It's a completely unbelievable experience. I'm just honored to be here," Storz said. "The process that it took to get here makes it very rewarding. I'm just going to try and embrace every moment and remembers as much as I can."
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