Former No. 1 pick and potential future No. 1 pick dominate HRDX Round Rock

With the Home Run Derby X championship already sealed and just five seconds left on the clock, former No. 1 overall pick Adrián González celebrated with a chest bump to teammate Grady Emerson, a top prospect who is projected as a potential first overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.

González and Emerson took over during the Finals in Round Rock, as they combined for 46 points on offense, which was more than Houston’s team scored. González, who was named the MVP of the event, hit 18 homers in the Finals to complete a 66-38 victory over the Astros that would punch the Dodgers’ ticket to Salt Lake on Sept. 19-20.

The two superstar lefties clearly formed a connection during their brief time as teammates.

“González is the best teammate I could have asked for,” Emerson said. “You know, he was really good at just calming me down and trying to keep my approach simple. It was really special just getting to be alongside him and learn from him.”

“We had some good conversations. He's a very mature and grounded kid,” González said about Emerson. “We talked a little bit about hitting in the cage. I gave him a couple things that he said helped, and you know it's always fun to see kids that are getting ready to go into this career of baseball that I’ve already been through. … [I] can’t wait to play with Emerson again in Salt Lake.”

Though Emerson was the youngest player to ever participate in Home Run Derby X, he is mature beyond his years. The 17-year-old stayed on the field longer than any player after the game, as he wanted to make sure he signed every single kid's baseball.

Emerson, who is going into his senior year of high school after committing to Texas, said prior to the event, “I’m going to take every opportunity I can get to talk to [the MLB legends] about what they’ve done, because obviously they did it at the highest level, and I want to be there someday.”

In the final, González led-off with 23 points and Emerson followed with 18, while Texas A&M softball star Mya Perez added 8 to put the game out of reach before Astros legend Josh Reddick even stepped to the plate. Reddick finished with a team-high 14 points in the Final, but it wasn’t nearly enough to overcome the Dodgers’ early onslaught.

The highlight of the night, however, came from former Florida State National Champion Elizabeth Mason in the Semifinal, who broke an HRDX record for hot-streak points in a round by scoring 16 points on just four swings.

“Props to [Mason]. She goes and calls the hot streak and hits four target shots,” Baylor star Travis Sanders said. “I mean, you could not have asked for anything better. That was really impressive and fun to watch. She won us that Semifinal.”

Despite her incredible performance, which included multiple diving catches on defense, Mason left disappointed after losing in the Finals.

“I hate losing, but how do you go against A-Gon?” Mason said. “He’s the man, so sometimes you just have to tip your cap.”

Though his team lost in the Finals, Baylor right-hander Sanders said: “That might have been one of the best times I’ve ever had playing the game of baseball. The crowd was electric. They showed up and showed out. Props to Round Rock for putting on this great event.

“It was a blessing to be a part of it and this is something that I’ll remember the rest of my life.”

Here is how the first two Semifinals finished:

Semifinal 1:

Dodgers: 47

Red Sox: 35

González and Perez led the charge for the Dodgers, scoring 16 and 11 points, respectively. Texas 2025 softball champion Katie Stewart put up 7 points, while Kevin Millar scored 8. Heading into the final at-bat, Manny Ramirez needed 24 points to win. Despite having the second-highest scoring round of Semifinal 1 at 13, it was too little, too late for the Red Sox.

Still, Millar and Ramirez, teammates on the 2004 World Series champion Red Sox, had a great time playing together again.

“Millar is awesome,” Ramirez said. “We are always joking around and pulling for each other, so I’m so happy I got to compete with him again.

Millar echoed the sentiment: “To be with Manny again, man -- it just brings back so many great memories. 22 years ago, we were teammates in 2003 through ‘05, so it just brought back those competitive juices. It's something you have done your whole life, so it was a lot of fun.”

Semifinal 2:

Astros 53

Rangers 46

Mason stole the show, as she led the Astros with 17 points. Reddick and Sanders also had solid rounds with 14 and 12 points, respectively, in a true team effort. Todd Frazier -- the first Home Run Derby Champion to participate in HRDX -- put up 11, while former Ranger Kevin Mench put up 9.

The best showing for the Rangers came from Longhorns legend Reese Atwood, who notched 15 points in her round, which did not go unnoticed by her fellow competitors.

“[Reese] can absolutely mash the ball. She is such a great girl and dominant in her sport,” Frazier said. “I was learning from her a little bit. I’m going to take some of that stuff back and bring it to my son because we can always learn from each other in this sport, and Reese is an absolute star.”

The Longhorns fans certainly came out for Atwood, as she received the largest ovation of the night.

“Texas fans always show up, I can always count on them,” Atwood said. “I’ll be a lifelong Texas fan, so I’m really grateful for them.”

Frazier also had the unique opportunity to team up with his former batting practice pitcher for the Reds, Mack Jenkins.

“He’s one of the best I’ve ever had throw BP,” Frazier said, “and him still doing it at this age is incredible. It was really fun to be back with him and see a smile on his face.”

Parker Law contributed reporting to this article.