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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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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 14: American League All-Star Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins bats during the Gillette Home Run Derby at Target Field on July 14, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 14: American League All-Star Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins bats during the Gillette Home Run Derby at Target Field on July 14, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2014: Brian Dozier

In the summer of 2014, Brian Dozier was in the midst of a breakout season. After a modest first start to his career, Dozier was suddenly hitting for power and in the first half, the Twins second baseman hit 18 home runs to punch his ticket to the derby. (There also was a push to have more hometown participants after Robinson Cano got booed out of Kaufman Stadium in 2012, which may have helped spawn Dozier’s appearance in Minneapolis.)

Taking his hacks in front of a hometown crowd at Target Field, Dozier didn’t fare too well hitting just two home runs in the first round of the derby. This crop didn’t have too much in terms of competition as Giancarlo Stanton and Yoenis Cespedes were the lone big names in the contest with Morneau’s cameo also making headlines.

At the end of the long night that included a rain delay at the beginning of the contest, Cespedes would defeat Todd Frazier 9-1 to take home the title.

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