2022 MLB Home Run Derby: Juan Soto top Julio Rodriguez to continue dramatic week

Juan Soto's future is the talk of MLB All-Star weekend, but his present now includes a Home Run Derby title.

The Washington Nationals slugger (for now) defeated fellow phenom Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners 19-18 to win the Derby in a week that has seen so much trade speculation and contract discussions.

Rodriguez reached the final with a show of force. The phenom unloaded the most homers of any player in the Derby in a single round with 32 in the first round, knocking off old Dodger Stadium friend Corey Seager in the process.

The semifinal was Rodriguez's true moment of arrival, as he took down two-time defending champion Pete Alonso with 31 homers to 23. Rodriguez set a high bar going first, showing off the kind of pull power the Derby often rewards.

Soto's route was less impressive, eeking out an 18-17 win over Jose Ramirez then advancing to face one of his idols in Albert Pujols. He beat the Dominican legend 16-15, needing to use much of his bonus time to clear the bar.

Albert Pujols still delivered the best moment

All it took was one Home Run Derby to show why allowing the MLB commissioner to add an aging legend to the All-Star rosters was very good idea.

Pujols, competing in his fifth Derby, delivered arguably the best moment of the event. Or, rather, every other All-Star did:

Pujols shocked top overall seed Kyle Schwarber 20-19 in a swingoff, the most dramatic round of the night. He would have less luck against Soto, but the cheers of Dodger Stadium as he took down Schwarber was all it took to show the fans appreciated the effort.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sports at https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-home-run-derby-julio-rodriguez-juan-soto-024313338.html