Morning Briefing: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Wins Home Run Derby
Good morning, Mets fans!
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the Home Run Derby, defeating Randy Arozarena with 25 home runs in the final round. Guerrero Jr. easily beat Mookie Betts in the first round before stunning the home crowd by defeating Julio Rodríguez in the semifinals. Guerrero Jr. and his father, Vlad Sr., are the first father-son duo to both win a Home Run Derby title.
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Pete Alonso hit a respectable 21 home runs, but he was no match for Julio Rodríguez in their first-round matchup, as the 22-year-old hit a Home Run Derby record 41 home runs to send Alonso packing.
Alonso and Kodai Senga will represent the Mets at the All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park tonight. It’s unknown whether either player will participate in the game. Senga was seen conversing with Shohei Ohtani on the field Monday, and said later, “I’m going to put this hat on him right now.” First pitch for the game is scheduled for 8 p.m.
"I'm going to put this hat on him right now"
– Kodai Senga on recruiting Shohei Ohtani to the Mets pic.twitter.com/NfWHrdzwH1
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) July 10, 2023
With the 91st pick in the MLB Draft, the Mets selected right-handed pitcher and outfielder Nolan McLean from Oklahoma State University. McLean possesses a fastball in the high 90s and 60-grade raw power, though he strikes out at a high rate.
With pick number 101, the Mets drafted right-hander Kade Morris out of the University of Nevada. Morris has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and while he had an ERA of 5.42 this year, he struck out 85 batters against 27 walks and allowed just six homers in 81 1/3 innings.
With the 123rd pick in the draft, the Mets selected another right-handed pitcher, Wyatt Hudepohl out of UNC Charlotte. Hudepohl had a solid junior year, recording a 4.27 ERA with 129 strikeouts against 27 walks in 105 1/3 innings.
With the 134th pick of the draft, the Mets picked shortstop A.J. Ewing out of Springboro High School in Ohio. Ewing was ranked the 101st-best prospect according to Prospects Live.
The Mets had the 135th pick as well, and they used it to select another righty in Missouri’s Austin Troesser. Working largely as a reliever, Troesser registered a 4.73 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings. He has a fastball that can touch the mid-90s.
The Mets went with another arm with pick number 159, this time selecting Grand Canyon southpaw Zach Thornton. The left-hander had a solid 3.87 ERA with 91 strikeouts against 18 walks in 88 1/3 innings this year.
With pick number 186, the Mets took Illinois righty Jack Wenninger. The six-foot-four right-hander had a 4.59 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings this past year.
The Mets finished off day 2 of the draft by selecting South Carolina righty Noah Hall and California high school shortstop Boston Baro. Hall had one of the best change-ups in the class but had his promising season cut short by a back problem. Baro meanwhile has been praised for his easy left-handed swing and solid defense.
The Mets got encouraging news back on Tommy Pham, as imaging on his groin came back negative. Pham exited Sunday’s game in San Diego in the bottom of the first inning due to tightness. The 35-year-old has been the Mets’ best hitter over the last six weeks, hitting .331/.397/.587 since May 28.
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Starting lineups for tonight’s All-Star Game were revealed yesterday. Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen (11-3, 3.04 ERA) will start the game for the NL, while Yankees fireballer Gerrit Cole (9-2, 2.85 ERA) will get the start for the AL.
Forbes revealed yesterday that Ronald Acuña Jr. and Shohei Ohtani are the most popular-selling jerseys in baseball this year. Francisco Lindor is the only Met to crack the top 20, checking in at 15.
The Yankees have hired three-time All-Star Sean Casey to be their new hitting coach, replacing the recently-fired Dillon Lawson. Casey was teammates with Yankees manager Aaron Boone for the Reds in their playing days.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Photo Credits: USA Today.
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Alexis Farinacci breaks down the Mets’ selection of Nolan McLean with the 91st pick.
Mike Mayer looks at the Mets’ selection of Kade Morris with pick number 101.
Matt Mancuso writes about the Mets picking Wyatt Hudepohl with the 123rd pick.
Alexis Farinacci looks at the Mets’ selection of A.J. Ewing with pick number 134. She also examines their selection of Austin Troesser with the 135th pick.
Alexis Farinacci dissects the Mets’ selection of Zach Thornton with pick 159. She also looks at their selection of Jack Wenninger with pick number 186.
Matt Mancuso breaks down the Mets’ selections of Noah Hall and Boston Baro.
Johnluke Chaparro breaks down Pete Alonso’s struggles heading into the All-Star break.
On This Date in Mets History
2006: David Wright takes Kenny Rogers deep in his first-ever All-Star Game at-bat to tie the game in the bottom of the second inning. The AL comes out on top, however, as Michael Young delivers a two-out, two-run triple off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning.
2008: Oliver Pérez dances around six walks to hold the Rockies to just one run in six innings, and Damion Easley‘s eighth-inning home run gives the Mets a 2-1 win and their seventh victory in a row. The Mets are now a season-high five games over .500.
2015: Matt Harvey hits his first career home run, a two-run shot off Patrick Corbin to cap off a three-run fifth inning. The Diamondbacks challenge the call, contesting that there was fan interference on the play, but the call is confirmed. Harvey also strikes out nine batters and allows two runs in seven innings, and is supported by homers from Lucas Duda and Ruben Tejada as the Mets down the Diamondbacks, 4-2.
2022: Max Scherzer allows just one run and three hits with nine strikeouts as the Mets down the Braves at Truist Park, 4-1. Edwin Díaz secures the win by striking out the side in the ninth inning.
Birthdays: Jack Heidemann (74), Mark Little (51), Blaine Boyer (42)
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