Prince Fielder Wins Second Home Run Derby

Player of the Day for Monday, July 9, 2012

American League

Just one player of the day from Monday, and he is Prince Fielder of the Detroit Tigers, who won the 2012 All Star Home Run Derby with an awesome power display in the second and third rounds of the competition.

Fielder: HR King

After hitting five homers in the opening round, Fielder just barely made it to the second round, led by Jose Bautista, who hit 11 and Mark Trumbo and Carlos Beltran, each of whom belted seven.

In the second round, Fielder got into his groove, smashing 11 balls over the walls of Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, splashing a good number of them into the fountains beyond center and right fields, including the longest of the night, a 476-foot blast.

Bautista managed to reach the final round, but was overwhelmed by Fielder's power. The burly Detroit first baseman launched 12 homers in the finals, easily bettering Bautista's effort of seven.

Fielder joins Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players to win the home run derby more than once. Griffey did it three times, while Fielder has won it twice, the first time as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009, making him the only player to win it as a representative of teams from both leagues.

Now in his seventh full season as a major leaguer, Fielder has 245 home runs and led the National League in 2007 with 50 long balls.