Lewis Brinson, of the USA, in action during the third edition of the Don’t Blink/Charles Johnson Foundation Home Run Derby in Paradise at Montagu Bay. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
#By RENALDO DORSETT
#Tribune Sports Reporter
#rdorsett@tribunemedia.net
#The third edition of the Don’t Blink/Charles Johnson Foundation Home Run Derby in Paradise produced a pair of new champions to conclude an exciting weekend of events.
#Lewis Brinson put on a spectacular hitting display and claimed the title of “Home Run King” as the individual champion while Team Fox was the overall team winner Saturday afternoon at the Montagu Bay foreshore.
#The revolutionary concept once again produced a series of highlights and showcased the Bahamas’ elite baseball talent along with visiting minor leaguers.
#The final round culminated in a matchup between Brinson and event co-founder Lucius Fox Jr.
#Brinson, the Miami Marlins outfielder, hit 13 home runs in 15 swings to clinch the title in his second year competing in the event. “I’m honoured to be invited to this and have the success that I have had this year. It’s also an honour and a blessing to be able to play the game of baseball for a living like I do.
#“I told myself I would outperform last year when I was a little nervous, I didn’t know what to expect. This year I was focused and I came here to win.” he said.
#“It’s great, this is my second year and it got better from last year and already, I can’t wait to be back next year, all the guys are telling me that this is something that needs to continue. It’s a well run event in a beautiful country and I’m honoured to be a part of it.”
The third edition of the Don’t Blink/Charles Johnson Foundation Home Run Derby in Paradise produced a pair of new champions to conclude an exciting weekend of events. Lewis Brinson put on a spectacular hitting display and claimed the title of “Home Run King” as the individual champion while Team Fox was the overall team winner Saturday afternoon at the Montagu Bay foreshore. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
#Brinson spent last season between the Marlins in the major leagues and its Triple-A affiliate, the New Orleans Baby Cakes.
#“This offseason I took time to myself away from social media to reset and just basically to take time away from everybody, everybody but my mom really, going into next year. There was stuff I had to work on and I’ve been working my but off this offseason,” Brinson said, “This was like the test for me to see how my mental skills and the things I’ve been working on in the cage – just working on staying short, staying quiet and it was good to see how it played out. I came on a mission,” Brinson said, “This was good to recharge and to come down here, take a load off and get back to work. We’ve got spring training in a month.”
#Brinson and Fox led their team to the win over last year’s champion, Team Isaacs.
#Tom Fox included Brinson and fellow Miami Marlins player Isan Diaz. Others included Ronnie Dawson (Houston Astros organisation), Nick Gordon (Minnesota Twins organisation), Josh Palacios (Toronto Blue Jays organisation), Braxton Davidson (Atlanta Braves organisation) and Buddy Reed (Oakland Athletics organisation). Local products included Kristian Robinson – the No.2 overall prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks organisation, Chavez Young (Toronto Blue Jays organisation), Keithron Moss (Texas Rangers organisation), D’Shawn Knowles (Los Angeles
#Angels of Anaheim), D’Vaughn Knowles (New York Yankees organisation), Warren Saunders (New York Mets organisation) and first year participant Ian Lewis (Miami Marlins organisation).
#Saunders was one of the highlights of the afternoon and posted 12 home runs in the opening round.
#Following the team format, the top four individual hitters from each team advanced to the playoff rounds.
#Team Isaacs was headlined by event co-founder Todd Isaacs Jr and the No.4 prospect in the Miami Marlins organisation – Jazz Chisholm, the top home run hitter of all Bahamian players this past season. Other local products included Trent Deveaux (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organisation), Anfernee Seymour (free agent) and several first year participants – Zion Bannister (Texas Rangers organisation), James Rolle (Baltimore Orioles organisation), Everette Cooper (Houston Astros organisation), Dax Stubbs (Baltimore Orioles organisation) and D’Vonn Mackey (Oakland Athletics organisation).Visiting hitters drafted to Team Isaacs include Will Benson (Cleveland Indians organisation), Jermiah Jackson (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheimorganisation), Christian Koss (Colorado Rockies organisation), Monte Harrison (Miami Marlins organisation) and Jet Johnson (Cleveland Indians organisation).
#Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cancer Society of the Bahamas, the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group and the Hurricane Dorian Relief Effort.
#A unique venue presented a unique approach as players hit home runs into Montagu Bay. Home run barriers were set by buoys in the water that were measured with the proper major league approved dimensions.
#“I’m really humble and excited for what we can accomplish in the future. It was a lot of fun to feel this energy,” Isaacs said, “It’s all about the fans and creating an atmosphere for baseball to flourish in the country. The Bahamas is a breeding ground for talent on and off the baseball field and in all professions in the world, so for us to bring this amount of people out and create something for people to recognize the amount of talent we have here is incredible. I’m looking forward to the number of Bahamian professional players to continue to grow so we could have even more competitors next year.”
#Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cancer Society of the Bahamas, the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group and the Hurricane Dorian Relief Effort.