Big Papi Swings for the Heavens

The Boston media is sticking a sock in their mouths right now when it comes to David Ortiz, in the early months of the season Big Papi had a slow start to season. The media was calling for his head saying he was too old, his bat was slow and that he was washed up. Last night Ortiz showed them who was in charge while he won State Farm Home Run Derby at Angels Stadium . Ortiz was one of eight players with four players from each league.

In the first round David hit eight homers which helped him to advance to the second round in the derby; he was the third player to advance, while he was joined by Miguel Cabrera, Corey Hart and Hanley Ramirez. There was a poor showing for Cabrera who is leading the league in homers and in path to winning a triple crown and Hart showed good in the first round knocking out 13 homers but put a big goose egg up in the second round. Ortiz put up 13 in the second round to put him at 21 homers to tie him with former Red Sox minor leaguer Ramirez for them to advance to the final round.

In the final round of the event Ortiz out shined his former apprentice while he tied the most home runs in a final round with 11 to make him the first Red Sox player to ever win the home run derby crown.

This was a fun family event which is put on for the fans; all the players had their kids on the field with them including big papi himself. Ortiz asked to participate in the derby because he wanted to put on a show for the fans and that it was for them. He called Ramirez like a son to him that he watched him grow up while he played in Boston in the minor league system. This event looked like fun for all the players and looked to raise the spirits of the Boston players as Dustin Pedroia was there filming him and of them was excited to see their Designated Hitter was having fun representing them in the derby.

David Ortiz 32 home runs put him third in most home runs in the derby in his first win. This puts him a total 68 home runs all time in the event he follows only future hall of famer Ken Griffey Jr. who only leads him by two home runs and he is the only player to win three derbies. This has been a fun to see these All-Star sluggers in action but all the true action continues tonight in the 81st All-Star game which will decide who has home field advantage in the World Series.