Jordan, Vukovich lead HS Home Run Derby

CLEVELAND -- The High School Home Run Derby turned seven years old on Sunday, once again helping to showcase some of the best power the prep ranks have to offer. In this year’s edition, seven of the eight participants came straight from the inaugural Prospect Pipeline Development League in Bradenton, Fla., to take their swings at Progressive Field.

The eighth entrant was Blaze Jordan (Desoto Central, Southaven, Miss.), who recently reclassified to be part of the 2020 Draft class, and it was Jordan who blasted the most home runs over two rounds, with his 20 catapulting him to the finals. He’ll be joined by AJ Vukovich (East Troy, Wisc.), who hit 18. Both will get to compete in front of a packed house, with the finals slated to take place between the first and second rounds of the MLB T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday night.

“I think it’s going to be crazy,” Vukovich said. “I’m guessing it’s going to be a sold-out crowd. I’ve always watched the Home Run Derby on TV. I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like until I’m actually out here. I’m sure it’s going to be unreal.”

“I really don’t know what it’s going to be like, because I’ve never been in front of that many people,” Jordan said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun. I’m really blessed to be here, so I’m going to enjoy it.”

Jordan was one of four players to hit double-digit homers in Sunday's three-minute opening round, with his 13 homers edging Vukovich’s 12 for the lead. Yohandy Morales (Monsignor Pace, Miami Gardens, Fla.) also hit a dozen in the first round. Austin Hendrick (West Allegheny, Imperial, Pa.) rounded out the top four with 10 homers. Vukovich may have hit the longest homer of the opening round, clearing a tower in deep center field, while Jordan had a streak of five straight swings that resulted in homers.

Jordan again led the pack in the second round, which lasted 90 seconds for all eight players. He hit seven homers to put him in first place overall. Vukovich hit six to put him in the finals. Morales hit three, with his 15 total homers putting him third, while Hendrick found the seats four more times to give him 14. Nolan McLean (Garner, N.C.) hit seven in the first and five in the second to give him the only other double-digit total for the afternoon.

“If you try to overswing, you’re not going to hit many out,” Vukovich said. “I kind of let my talent take over, just trust my swing and see where it takes me. I would honestly say I do a little better when I’m fatigued, because I’m not trying to do too much.”

“You get a little tired, toward the end especially,” Jordan said. “It helps me a little, too, because I can’t overswing. You just do what you can do.”

Over the years, several high school players have gone from the High School Home Run Derby on to become top Draft picks the following year. Jo Adell and Royce Lewis, for instance, were part of the 2016 version of the event, and both are in Cleveland to play in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. A year ago, Bobby Witt Jr. bested Rece Hinds in the final and was the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s Draft.

“I saw a few videos of him and thought it would be really cool to come and experience this, and when I got the call, I was really excited,” Jordan said. “It’s just great to be here.”

“I had an idea of what was going on and what was at stake,” Vukovich added. “I was just looking forward to trying it out, seeing how I’d do competing with the best power guys in the country.”

Jordan was also playing a little catch-up. Because he became part of the 2010 Draft class recently, he wasn’t invited to the PDP League. But he said it didn’t take long to get up to speed with the other seven in attendance.

“All these guys are great,” Jordan said. “They’re great players. You’ll see these guys on TV one day. It was very cool meeting up with them. I knew some of them, but I didn’t know them on a personal level. We all just treated each other like we’ve known each other for a while.”

Vukovich is another product of the Wisconsin high school ranks, which has become a bit of a surprising hotbed. Gavin Lux, Jarred Kelenic and Daulton Varsho, all Futures Gamers this year, also come from there.

“They’ve done a great job with hitters up there,” said Vukovich, who added that Lux, Kelenic, Corey Ray and Ben Rortvedt have all been products of the Hitters Baseball Academy. “Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am right now.”