Monday night’s Home Run Derby featured a thrilling conclusion when Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. edged out Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena in the final round by a 25–23 margin, with Arozarena coming up just short in the final 30 seconds. The result was a historic win, with Guerrero winning the event 16 years after his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., won in San Francisco, making them the first father-son ever duo to win the Derby.
It was a celebratory conclusion for a showcase evening, though viewers at home bore witness to an unfortunate mistake on the ESPN broadcast shortly after Guerrero’s win. As he was being interviewed by ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez afterward, the on-screen graphic noted that Guerrero was the second Cuban-born player to win the Derby, following Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and ’14. Guerrero was actually born in Canada, and later lived in the Dominican Republic.
ESPN graphic notes that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a "Cuban-born HR Derby champion."
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 11, 2023
He was born in Canada (Montreal) before living in the Dominican Republic. pic.twitter.com/0SvXxLod47
That descriptor would have applied to Arozarena, who was born in Cuba before living in Mexico after defecting in 2015.
The error was an unfortunate misstep after what was an ascendant performance from Guerrero, who made the All-Star team for the third consecutive year. He arrived at the break with 13 homers and a .787 OPS through 88 games, though will surely look to use his Derby win as a springboard for more power in the second half of the season.
