When it comes to mashing home runs, Prince is king. This was on full display as he won the 2012 Home Run Derby contest.
Prince Fielder hit the All-Star break with just 15 home runs on the season. This has him way behind the 27 HRs of major league leaders Josh Hamilton and Jose Bautista, but this is about more than stats.
For starters, Fielder's switch from the Brewers to the Detroit Tigers has to be taken into account. So not only is Fielder dealing with the switch in leagues, but he moved to the spacious Comerica Park, where many home runs are magically transformed into outfield outs.
But let's go even further beyond those numbers, and just look at Fielder at the plate. There is not a more violent swing in the game today. Fielder is fluid, but the sheer force of swing is incredible. If my body ever torqued around with that much force, I would be in traction for a month.
That massive swing could be seen in all its glory in this competition. With Fielder free to swing from his heels, the wind created by his blur of a bat could likely be felt almost as far away as his home runs traveled, and they traveled far.
Fielder made dunking a ball in the famed fountain of Kauffman Stadium look routine. He was bouncing balls off places of that stadium that no one should be able to touch. His longest bash was 476'. That was 17' further than the next closest.
So while Fielder isn't going to end this season with the home run title, if I had to pick one player to hit one pitch yard, I'm not going with anyone other than Prince.
Results
Champion: Prince Fielder
Final Round
1. Prince Fielder: 12
2. Jose Bautista: 7
Round 2
1. Prince Fielder: 16
2. Jose Bautista: 13 (Bautista won second-round swing-off with Trumbo to advance to final round)
3: Mark Trumbo: 13
4: Carlos Beltran: 12
Round 1
1. Jose Bautista: 11
2. Carlos Beltran: 7
3. Mark Trumbo: 7
4. Prince Fielder: 5
5. Carlos Gonzalez: 4
6. Andrew McCutchen: 4
7. Matt Kemp: 1
8: Robinson Cano: 0
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