Dan Connolly

Trumbo loses Home Run Derby in semis to Miami’s Stanton, who wins it all

By Dan Connolly

Posted on July 11, 2016

Miguel Tejada’s name remains pertinent in Orioles’ exhibition lore.

He’s the last Oriole to capture Major League Baseball’s Home Run Derby contest, winning the 2004 contest at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

First baseman Mark Trumbo had a chance this year, but he ran into a buzzsaw named Giancarlo Stanton.

Trumbo the majors’ current home run leader, was the No. 1 seed in the contest, and he dispatched No. 8 Corey Seager in the first round, 16-15, with eight seconds remaining.

He then faced Miami’s Stanton, who was the fifth seed and beat Robinson Cano in the first round in impressive fashion, 24-7.

Stanton clobbered 17 in the second round, including a 497-foot job. Trumbo followed with 13, making it close but running out of gas at the end.

It was still an impressive display for Trumbo, who chose Orioles’ bullpen catcher Jett Ruiz, a San Diego native, as his BP pitcher. Trumbo reached the left-field scoreboard and the roof of the Western Metal Supply Co. building in left with blasts.

But, ultimately, Stanton advanced to face last year’s winner, Chicago White Sox slugger Todd Frazier in the final round.

Stanton won the whole thing with a 20-13 victory over Frazier. He’s the first Marlins player to win the event, which began in 1985.

Tejada is one of two Orioles to win the Derby. Cal Ripken Jr. was the 1991 champion at The SkyDome in Toronto.