It didn’t take long for the balls to start flying at the Home Run Derby.
Seattle Mariners rookie Julio Rodriguez, the first competitor, belted a whopping 32 home runs in his four minutes of time (the regular three minutes, plus a one-minute bonus for hitting two home runs going at least 440 feet) on Monday at Dodger Stadium. The total was a rookie record and the second-most all time for the opening round.
The 21-year-old Dominican, seeded sixth, upset No. 3 seed Corey Seager of the Texas Rangers to advance to the semifinals. Seager, a former Los Angeles Dodger, got a nice ovation from the crowd before clearing the fence 24 times.
The 14th rookie in history to compete in the event, Rodriguez is looking to become the third rookie to win it.
Rodriguez became the first Mariner to advance to the semis since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998.
Meanwhile, New York Mets slugger and No. 2 seed Pete Alonso kept his three-peat bid alive with a 21-19 win over Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves (Alonso batted after Acuna and stopped once he got to 21). Alonso will face Rodriguez in the semis.
In the other semifinal, No. 4 seed Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals will face No. 8 seed and crowd favourite Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Soto, batting second, beat Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians 18-17, while Pujols beat No. 1 seed Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies 7-5 in a one-minute extra round after they tied at 13-13.
Soto was competing after reports indicated that he rejected a 15-year, $440-million offer from the Nationals, prompting the club to explore trade talks.
The 42-year-old Pujols, who has announced he will retire at season’s end, was making his fifth appearance in the Home Run Derby.
Every player in the All-Star Game surrounded Pujols prior to his 30 seconds of bonus time to honour the Cardinal.
Watch the Home Run Derby on Sportsnet.
