Reds outfielder Adam Duvall participated in the 2016 MLB Home Run Derby tonight and acquitted himself quite nicely, advancing to the semi-final round before being narrowly defeated by former Reds 3B Todd Frazier. Frazier would ultimately be defeated by not-actually-human Giancarlo Stanton.
Duvall got on a serious roll in the first round after his opponent, hometown favorite Wil Myers, put up a mere 10 home runs. ESPN decided that when unknown Adam Duvall came up to bat, they'd swing it to an interview with retiring David Ortiz, so that he could explain exactly how the Home Run Derby works, because, you know, it's pretty tough.
Duvall kinda liked the obscurity and beat Wil Myers with 1:45 left in the first round.
That showing eventually matched him up with defending champion Todd Frazier. Duvall did his best, mashing 15 dingers in the allotted time, but none far enough to grant him the extra 30 second given for The Big Dingers. Frazier, the Old Pro in this event*, knew exactly what he needed to do and eliminated the new Reds favorite with 16 taters, accomplishing the feat with 45ish seconds left on the clock.
Frazier would eventually give up his crown to not-actually-human Giancarlo Stanton in the Final Round. Stanton is now the One True King of Dingerros. It won't be long before someone comes for the crown.
Congrats to Adam Duvall. He was our faceless, unheralded wonder, and he put up a helluva fight in this contest.
Tune into tomorrow for Duvall's pinch hit home run game winner for the NL team.
*event only one year old