MLB Home Run Derby winners since 1985

The Home Run Derby—in any era—remains one of the most exciting events on the MLB calendar. While the format has shifted over the years, the thrill of watching professional hitters crank out the longball is a sight to behold, with folklore-like legends created in one swing of the bat — from Ken Griffey Jr. to Frank Thomas to Josh Hamilton and beyond.

This year, eight sluggers will look to add their names to the storied Home Run Derby, joining these MLB players who have won since its inception in 1985.

2024 — Teoscar Hernandez

Not many had the Dodgers' Teoscar Hernandez as a favorite in 2024, but the right-handed slugger pulled off a thriller at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, outdueling the Royals' Bobby Witt in the final, 14-13.

2023 — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

Vlad Jr. put on a power display at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. He out-slugged the Mariners' Randy Arozarena in the final round with a score of 25-23, which entered the Guerrero family in baseball history as the first father-son duo (along with Vlad Sr., 2007) to win the Home Run Derby.

2022 — Juan Soto, Washington Nationals

Juan Soto played the hero in the Hollywood night as the Washington Nationals slugger topped a powerful display from Mariners' right-handed up-and-comer, rookie Julio Rodriguez.

2021 — Pete Alonso, New York Mets

After a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Derby was back! Los Angeles Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani was the top seed in the eight-man bracket. But it was the New York Mets' Pete Alonso who stole the show, winning over Baltimore's Trey Mancini for back-to-back Derby crowns.

2019 — Pete Alonso, New York Mets

Alonso hit 57 total home runs at Cleveland's Progressive Field, including 23 in the final round to beat fellow rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. by one home run.

2018 — Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

Harper put on one last show for his fans in Washington, beating Kyle Schwarber by one home run in the final at Nationals Park.

2017 — Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Judge beat Justin Bour, Cody Bellinger and Miguel Sano en route to a Home Run Derby title at Marlins Park.

2016 — Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins

Stanton hit a Derby-record 61 homers, including 24 in the opening round against Robinson Cano at San Diego's Petco Park.

2015 — Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds

Frazier had the backing of hometown fans, winning an exciting derby at Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark.

2014 — Yoenis Cesepes, Oakland Athletics

Cespedes won his second straight Derby title after hitting 28 total home runs at Minnesota's Target Field.

2013 — Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics

Cespedes hit 17 home runs in the first round to win the Home Run Derby title at New York's Citi Field.

2012 — Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers

Fielder hit several shots into the fountains at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium to win his second Home Run Derby title.

2011 — Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

Cano hit 32 total home runs at Arizona's Chase Field to edge out Adrian Gonzalez by one home run.

2010 — David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

Ortiz hit 32 home runs to easily win the 2011 Home Run Derby at Angel Stadium.

2009 — Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers

Fielder beat out Nelson Cruz by two homers to win the Derby title at St. Louis' Busch Stadium. Both of Fielder's wins came at Missouri ballparks.

2008 — Justin Morneau, New York Yankees

This Derby is remembered for Josh Hamilton's amazing 28 homers in the first round at old Yankee Stadium, but Morneau saved his energy to outlast Hamilton over the final two rounds.

2007 — Vladimir Guerrero, Los Angeles Angels

The future Hall of Famer only needed three homers in the final round to beat Alex Rios who hit two. This Derby took place at San Francisco's AT&T Park.

2006 — Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies

Howard won the 2006 NL MVP with 58 homers and added the Derby title to his trophy case with a win at Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

2005 — Bobby Abreu, Philadelphia Phillies

Abreu smashed 24 homers in the first round and beat Ivan Rodriguez in the final to win the 2005 competition at Detroit's Comerica Park.

2004 — Miguel Tejada, Baltimore Orioles

Tejada beat hometown favorite Lance Berkman in the final round to win the 2004 title at Houston's Minute Maid Park.

2003 — Garret Anderson, Los Angeles Angels

Albert Pujols hit more total homers, but Anderson beat the Cardinals slugger 9-8 in the final round to win the 2003 Home Run Derby title at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field.

2002 — Jason Giambi, New York Yankees

Giambi topped two Chicago sluggers — Paul Konerko in the semifinals and Sammy Sosa in the final — to win the 2002 title at Milwaukee's Miller Park.

2001 – Luis Gonzalez, Arizona Diamondbacks

Sammy Sosa hit only two homers in the final at Seattle's Safeco Field, which was easily surpassed by Gonzalez's six homers in that round.

2000 — Sammy Sosa, Chicago Cubs

Sosa blasted 26 total home runs, more than twice of the next closest opponent (Carl Everett had 12) to win at Atlanta's Turner Field.

1999 — Ken Griffey, Jr., Seattle Mariners

Griffey beat Jeromy Burnitz 3-2 in the final round as the righthanders in the group took aim at the Green Monster at Boston's Fenway Park. It was Griffey's third Derby title, which still stands as a record.

1998 — Ken Griffey, Jr., Seattle Mariners

Griffey hit 19 total homers and beat Jim Thome 3-2 in the final round to win the title at Colorado's Coors Field.

1997 — Tino Martinez, New York Yankees

Martinez beat Colorado's Larry Walker 3-1 in the final to win the Derby at Cleveland's Jacobs Field.

1996 — Barry Bonds, San Francisco Giants

Bonds hadn't yet morphed into the home run hitting monster that would create controversy in the early 2000s, but he did hit 17 total homers at Philadelphia's Veterans Stadium and beat foe Mark McGwire 3-2 in the final.

1995 — Frank Thomas, Chicago White Sox

The Big Hurt beat future White Sox teammate Albert Belle 3-2 in the final at The Ballpark In Arlington.

1994 — Ken Griffey, Jr., Seattle Mariners

Griffey won his first Home Run Derby at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium with seven homers.

1993 — Juan Gonzalez, Texas Rangers

Gonzalez and Ken Griffey Jr. both hit seven homers during the regular competition and Gonzo needed two extra rounds to beat "The Kid" at Baltimore's Camden Yards.

 1992 — Mark McGwire, Oakland A's

McGwire won his only Home Run Derby title, hitting 12 homers at San Diego's Jack Murphy Stadium.

1991 — Cal Ripken, Jr., Baltimore Orioles

Ripken won the 1991 Home Run Derby at Toronto's SkyDome, one day before winning MVP of the All-Star Game.

1990 — Ryne Sandberg, Chicago Cubs

Sandberg infamously won the 1990 Derby at Wrigley Field with only three total home runs while the rest of the eight-man field combined for only two home runs. The wind at Wrigley Field will do that.

1989 — Eric Davis, Cincinatti Reds and Ruben Sierra, Texas Rangers

Both men hit three homers during the team competition at Anaheim Stadium. Davis' National League beat Sierra's American League crew, 9-5.

The 1988 contest the year before at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium was canceled due to rain.

1987 — Andre Dawson, Chicago Cubs

The 1987 competition was only a four-person affair. Dawson's four homers bested Ozzie Virgil (2), George Bell (1) and Mark McGwire (1) at the Oakland Coliseum.

1986 — Darryl Strawberry, New York Mets and Wally Joyner, California Angels

Strawberry and Joyner each hit four home runs at the Astrodome as the NL won the team competition 8-7.

1985 — Dave Parker, Cincinnati Reds 

Parker hit six homers to win the individual title in the first Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game, which was held at Minnesota's Metrodome that year.

This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Every MLB Home Run Derby winner since 1985