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MLB Home Run Derby 2019: A history of the Minnesota Twins in the Home Run Derby

By Chris Schad

NEW YORK - JULY 14: Justin Morneau #33 bats during the 2008 MLB All-Star State Farm Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium on July 14, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK - JULY 14: Justin Morneau #33 bats during the 2008 MLB All-Star State Farm Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium on July 14, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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ST LOUIS, MO – JULY 13: American League All-Star Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins competes in the State Farm Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium on July 13, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
ST LOUIS, MO – JULY 13: American League All-Star Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins competes in the State Farm Home Run Derby at Busch Stadium on July 13, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) /

2009: Joe Mauer

One of the biggest complaints during Joe Mauer‘s career was his lack of power. However, the Twins great made an appearance in the Home Run Derby in 2009 thanks to 15 HR in his first 64 games of the year. As part of a season where Mauer would hit a career-high 29 HR on his way to the American League MVP Award, he would go head-to-head with Pujols, Fielder and future Twin Nelson Cruz.

Mauer would take his swings with his high school coach doing the pitching and he would fare well by his power standards, hitting five balls over the fence in the first round. Although Mauer was on a power surge throughout the 2009 season, his gap-to-gap style wouldn’t produce success as he would fall just short of making the cut.

As for Cruz, he participated as a member of the Texas Rangers and would head to the finals to challenge Fielder. Fielder would get the upper hand in that battle, hitting a majestic blast to win the finals by a score of 6-5.

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