Gary Sanchez wasn’t the Yankee expected to steal the Home Run Derby spotlight.
But the Yankees catcher — whose very presence there was controversial — got the sold-out crowd at Marlins Park on their feet early Monday night, blasting 17 home runs in his opening-round matchup with hometown favorite Giancarlo Stanton.
Sanchez’s show was just enough to quiet last year’s champion in a riveting, 17-16 win that left the Marlins faithful stunned their king was gone.
The magic didn’t last past the first round, as Twins slugger Miguel Sano eliminated Sanchez, 11-10, in the semifinals to get his shot at the crown.
Sanchez’s 483-foot bomb was the longest of the night until Stanton showed him up with a 496-footer during his round.
Sanchez likely had a chip on his shoulder going into what was a lopsided matchup on paper. The 24-year-old breakout star was forced to justify his appearance in the Home Run Derby after the Rays’ Logan Morrison, feeling snubbed from the All-Star event, insulted Sanchez’s power numbers and argued against his selection.
“Gary shouldn’t be there. Gary’s a great player, but he shouldn’t be in the Home Run Derby,” Morrison said on July 4. “I remember when I had 14 home runs. That was a month-and-a-half ago.”
The second-year Yankee didn’t take the bait.
“What can I say? That’s something that I have no control of,” Sanchez said the day after. “It’s not my fault he didn’t get selected.”
