Ever wonder how those few lucky kids get to shag fly balls
during the MLB Home Run Derby? Cory Taylor found out, and it has
nothing to do with luck.
MORGAN HILL
Ever wonder how those few lucky kids get to shag fly balls during the MLB Home Run Derby? Cory Taylor found out, and it has nothing to do with luck.
The Morgan Hill native was invited to do so last week in Angel Stadium as part of the Hit, Pitch and Run Competition National Finals presented by Aquafina. Taylor, 8, made the cut through a series of qualifiers that began in May. Each event tests the participants’ throwing and hitting accuracy and foot speed.
Taylor won a local competition in Gilroy, then took top honors at a regional in San Leandro, earning an invite to compete in the Oakland Coliseum during an A’s game in June. Taylor, a San Francisco Giants fan and one of three finalists from Northern California, placed first in that competition as well and was named the Athletics’ representative for the National Finals in the 7-8 age group.
ESPN’s Gary Thorne, the emcee for the qualifier in Oakland, gave Taylor a comical introduction.
“Cory’s representing the A’s, but he likes the team across the Bay.”
With more than 600,000 participants in his wake, Taylor flew to Anaheim on July 11 to compete Tuesday before the Home Run Derby and enjoy the All-Star Game festivities with his parents.
Taylor hit a ball accurately from 140 yards away, ran 160 feet in 8.8 seconds and threw well to a target from 45 feet.
