Robinson Cano pulled a dud during the Home Run Derby, Prince Fielder put his name in the history books, and Kansas City really loves Billy Butler.
That’s pretty much all you need to know about Monday night’s Home Run Derby at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.
We’ll start with Cano.
The Yankees sweet-swinging second baseman went into the derby as the defending champion and left with an embarrassing performance, while also learning that he’s enemy No. 1 as far as Royals fans are concerned.
Cano, as the captain of the American League derby participants, was given the honor of selecting his teammates, and Butler wasn’t among them.
His decision to leave out Butler—batting .290 with 16 homers on the season—prompted angry Royals fans to boo Cano each time his face appeared on the scoreboard.
“I was criticized before I got here,” Cano reportedly said. “If you play for the Yankees you get booed everywhere you go.”
Meanwhile, Fielder had a much better day at the office.
The Detroit Tigers slugger beat Toronto’s Jose Bautista 12-7 in the final, and also had a total of 28 home runs over three rounds.
This was the first baseman’s second Home Run Derby title, tying him with Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players to win more than one title.
Fielder said being mentioned with Griffey is “real special” because he spent time at Griffey’s house when he as a kid, adding, “My dad would let me go over and play video games all day. He always took care of me when I was a kid.”
-With Associated Press
