Mariners News: Cano Cannot Overcome Stanton in Home Run Derby

Robbie had his foot deep in the hole before he ever stepped into the batter’s box, and the star second baseman failed to make it out of the first round in Monday’s Home Run Derby.

Monday night was the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, and for the first time since 2003, the Seattle Mariners were represented. Robinson Cano made his fourth career appearance in the derby, but tonight was his first experience while wearing an M’s hat.

The current incarnation of the Home Run Derby is a head-to-head format. Each player gets four minutes to hit as many homers as possible. Long gone are days where players had 10 outs and had to be nauseatingly selective in regards to pitches. Now, hitters just let it rip.

More from Mariners News

• What if the Mariners traded FOR Tyler O’Neill this time?
• Mariners starting pitching is being overlooked by MLB
• Baking the Cake: An Adjusted Mariners Offseason Plan
• Taylor Trammell Could Provide Impact to 2023 Mariners
• What Jerry Dipoto’s trades, comments mean for remainder of Mariners offseason

Cano earned the fourth seed in the competition, and had the unenviable task of squaring off against Giancarlo Stanton in the opening round. Stanton’s power is prodigious, and he flexed his muscles tonight in San Diego. The Marlins’ slugger launched baseballs all over Petco Park, reaching the roof of the Western Metal Supply Co. with ease and nearly hitting the scoreboard in left field numerous times.

All told, Stanton posted a remarkable 24 home runs in the first round this evening. That meant Robbie had to hit 25 round trippers to punch his ticket into the second round.

Cano got off to a decent start, clubbing a pair of homers in the first 30 seconds. He snuck the first one just inside the right field foul pole and followed up by crushing the next pitch he saw over the wall in right.

However, that was the peak for Robbie, as he was only able to record 7 home runs tonight. That was the lowest first round tally of anyone in the derby. Obviously, this was not the result Cano was hoping for, but Stanton’s 24 dingers were intimidating to say the least.

More from SoDo Mojo

• What if the Mariners traded FOR Tyler O’Neill this time?
• Mariners starting pitching is being overlooked by MLB
• Baking the Cake: An Adjusted Mariners Offseason Plan
• Taylor Trammell Could Provide Impact to 2023 Mariners
• How the Mariners could swing a trade for Fernando Tatis Jr

As is his tradition, Robinson employed his father, Jose, to pitch to him tonight. There was a slightly humorous moment midway through Cano’s round when Jose threw an inside fastball that had Robbie dancing out of the box.

Regardless of the poor showing tonight, Cano is still having a tremendous season for the Mariners in 2016. The 33-year-old is slashing .313/.368/.555 with 21 home runs and 58 RBI across 89 games. Cano is a key reason why the Mariners are in playoff contention this season, and his performance will be key down the stretch for Seattle.

Next: Tyler O’Neill goes Hitless in Futures Game

It may have only been brief, but it sure was fun to see the Mariners represented in the Home Run Derby this season. Hopefully Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz will get a shot next season.