Taking part in the first Home Run Derby of his career, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones advanced to the second round before bowing out in the 2014 competition at Target Field in Minnesota on Monday night.
The four-time All-Star selection hit four homers in the first round to advance in the new tournament format before falling short against Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who hit nine homers to advance to take on Toronto’s Jose Bautista in the third round. Jones hit three in the second round after Cespedes put up the impressive number, but two laser shots hooked foul, which didn’t help the Baltimore outfielder’s effort.
Cespedes would go on to win the competition for the second year in a row, besting Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier in the finals.
“The #HRDerby is legit,” Jones wrote on his official Twitter account after being eliminated. “Great experience and had a blast. All in the fun of the game.”
Teammate and injured catcher Matt Wieters brought a sports drink to Jones at one point during his second round at the plate, but the energy boost wasn’t enough to get him to the semifinals.
Orioles bullpen catcher Jett Ruiz pitched to Jones in the competition as the 28-year-old was trying to join Cal Ripken in 1991 and Miguel Tejada in 2004 as the only Baltimore players to win the Home Run Derby.
Jones is hitting .301 with 16 home runs and 54 runs batted in this season and will bat seventh behind Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz in the American League starting lineup for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
