CLEVELAND -- Carlos Santana received the welcome one might expect for a hometown hero at Monday's Home Run Derby.
But as it turns out, that will go down as the highlight of the Cleveland Indians first baseman's night.
While his 13 home runs may have initially seemed lackluster, it appeared there would be a chance that he'd advance to the second round. Following a slow start, however, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso rallied to finish his round, with his 14th home run clinching a second-round appearance -- and Santana's elimination.
Although Alonso was initially booed for eliminating Santana, who entered Monday as the clear cut home crowd favorite, it remains possible he could gain some support in the rounds to come. Prior to Monday's event, the Mets' rookie proclaimed Ohio the "best state ever" as both of his parents are natives of Lancaster, Ohio.
In the second round, Alonso will face Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who beat out the Home Run Derby favorite, Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell, in the opening round. To this point, the star of the show has been Toronto Blue Jays rookie third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who set a Home Run Derby record with 29 home runs in his opening round showing.
In the semifinals, Guerrero will face Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson, who beat out Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman in the opening round. The winner of that matchup will face the winner of the Alonso-Acuna matchup in the finals to determine the 2019 Home Run Derby champion.
