Julio atlanta braves store Rodriguez built on Ken Griffey Jr.'s legacy during impressive Home Run Derby display
July 19, 2022
In a game of titans, it was 21-year-old Julio Rodriguez who stood tallest.
The Mariners center fielder fell in the finals of the 2022 Home Run Derby to fellow superstar — and Dominican Republic native — Juan Soto. But with 81 dingers across the competi atlanta braves shirt vintage tion's three rounds, Rodriguez notched the second-most homers in Derby history, bested only by Blue Jays supernova Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in 2019.
Simply put, i atlanta braves jersey xxl t was a historic performance for the Seattle star. And peering through the lens of a bulky camera, another famous son of Seattle had to snap pictures.
On ESPN's broadcast, Mariners legend Ken Griffey Jr. was captured snapping away as Rodriguez launched balls into orbit.
It was poetic, Griffey documenting yet another impressive display by the budding Mariners icon.
FAGAN: J-Rod shows why he's a future face of baseball at Home Run Derby
There are more similarities than differences when it comes to Rodriguez and GrMLB Shortsiffey. At their peaks, both are athletic freaks — rangy defenders capable of reeling in the most stunning of web gems.
Junior famously h atlanta braves attire ad one of the smoothest swings in MLB histTommy Bahama ory. His stride was pure and effortless, like a painter putting the final touches on a beautiful portrait. On the many occasions when he launched the ball over the bleachers, The Kid would strut out the batter's atlanta braves fan shop box gracefully.
A right-handed bat, J-Rod's swing doesn't quite ha atlanta braves jersey ve the aesthetic charm of Griffey's. But he's no slouch either — his 81 homers Monday proved as much.
Junior and J-Rod both shined at the Home Run Derby at a young age. At 24 years, 7 months and 20 days year old, Griffey is the sixth-youngest Home Run Derby winner in league history. Rodriguez was one Juan Soto rally away from being the youngest-ever winner.
You can't write about the history of the Home Run Derby and not include Griffey. He is, technically speaking, the greatest participant in the competition, after all. Griffey claimed Jorge Soler Marlins Jerseys three Home Run Derby titles during his career. He also was famously became the first hitter in MLB history to hit the warehouse at Baltimore's Camden Yards in the 1993 Derby.
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Look at that smile…
At 21 years old, Rodriguez has plenty of time to carve his own legacy. But reShohei Ohtani gardless of what he accomplishes this year or throughout the course of his MMLB T-Shirts ariners career, he'll be standing on the shoulders of past Seattle icons: Felix Hernandez, Ichiro Suzuki, Edgar Martinez, Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson.
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And most importantly, Junior, the man who starred on the plate and in the field, a player whose star shone brightest under the lights at the Home Run Derby … just like Rodriguez.