Morneau Slugs His Way To HR Derby Title

(AP)

by Dan Cash

In what begins the final All-Star week at the current Yankee Stadium Justin Morneau outslugged Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton 5-3 in the final round of the derby Monday night.

Hamilton however walked away with most of the glory powering a record 28 balls into the stands in the first round. Morneau says he was happy to win…but even he was rooting for Hamilton…

The praise all coming in of course because of everything Hamilton has had to overcome in the last few years.

After being selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999 Hamilton was involved in a major car accident with his mother that began a stretch of life, he’s looking to forget. He says he’s lucky to be where he’s at right now.

Experimentation with drugs led to a full-fledged addiction as well that forced him completely out of baseball until his long awaited Major League debut in 2007.

Hamilton must submit 3 urine samples every week in effort to assure Major League baseball, the Texas Rangers and himself that he’s remained clean. He hit 35-homeruns in the derby Monday night.