CINCINNATI — Todd Frazier won the Home Run Derby in his home park on Monday night, introducing the term “buzzer-beater” to a sport that once had no clock.
Frazier, the Cincinnati Reds’ third baseman, defeated the rookie outfielder Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers, 15-14, in the final round of the first derby to be held under a timed format. Limiting each hitter’s turn to four minutes — using the clock installed this season to count down between innings — turned out to provide a jolt to an event that used to plod along.
“You had to pick the pace up a little bit,” Frazier said.