MLB Work Out Day and Home Run Derby

Cincinnati, Ohio -  The 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby at the All-Star break had an a strange twist for this reporter having covered Joc Pederson from the Los Angeles Dodgers.   Pederson had played with the Great Lakes Loons in 2011 in Midland.   Now Pederson would work his way to the Home Run Derby finals against hometown star Todd Frazier.

It was very interesting to be down on the field during the workout and watching both Frazier and Pederson stroke ball after ball into the stands much to the delight of the crowd.   Frazier would defeat Prince Fielder and Josh Donaldson in the first two rounds to advance to the finals.   Pederson would best Manny Machado and Albert Pujois to get face Frazier in the Finals.  

All of Cincinnati got behind the hometown hero for the victory with 15 home runs to Pederson's 14.   Frazier would hit a total of 39 home runs on the night in the new format.   MLB changed the Home Run Derby to be completed within 4 minutes and gave bonus time if a player hit the ball over 425 feet.   I liked the changes that this brought and added excitement to hit a certain amount in a certain time frame.   All in all MLB scored a victory with the new changes.