51s’ Taijeron enjoys his brief time in Triple-A Home Run Derby
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Travis Taijeron’s time in the Triple-A Home Run Derby was brief, but the 51s right fielder enjoyed the experience nonetheless.
Taijeron was eliminated in the first round of the derby at BB&T Ballpark after hitting five home runs, the second lowest total of eight contestants. Pawtucket’s Chris Marrero won the contest with 18 home runs in the final round, edging out Reno’s Kyle Jensen.
Taijeron was in the All-Star Game last year but didn’t participate in the derby. This time, the right fielder, who has 13 homers on the season, was invited to and obliged.
The derby was run with a four-minute clock and Taijeron, who hit second, said he was exhausted by the end of it.
“It was cool. I had fun with it. It took me a little bit to get going,” Taijeron said. “Four minutes was longer than I thought it was going to be. Now, looking back at it, I would have spaced it out a little more and probably (taken) more pitches so I wouldn’t get as tired.”
After watching a few more guys hit after him, he said he should have paced himself a little more.
Manager Wally Backman was originally supposed to throw to all of the Pacific Coast League hitters — Taijeron included — but was told Monday somebody else would.
Backman and Taijeron had gone out a couple times in the past week for batting practice.
“Having Wally probably would have helped because I’ve seen Wally the past couple years pitching and all that stuff,” Taijeron said. “That would have helped having the home guy and all that but I mean still I feel like I should have hit a (few) more home runs, but we’re past that point now.”
Tuesday will be a workout day for the Triple-A All Stars before they take the field for their game on Wednesday, a day after the Major League game. Taijeron, T.J. Rivera and Gabriel Ynoa will participate in the game while Backman will serve as the manager for the Pacific Coast League’s team.
Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter: @BetsyHelfand.
