MESA, Ariz. — Papaikou-raised Waiakea High alumnus Kala‘i Rosario won the Arizona Fall League’s home run derby, hitting 25 home runs with his longest measuring 465 feet on Saturday at Sloan Park.
MESA, Ariz. — Papaikou-raised Waiakea High alumnus Kala‘i Rosario won the Arizona Fall League’s home run derby, hitting 25 home runs with his longest measuring 465 feet on Saturday at Sloan Park.
Rosario defeated Blue Jays prospect Damiano Palmegiani 6-5 during the derby’s final round.
The derby victory is yet another accolade earned this year for the 21-year old Minnesota Twins prospect, who was named MiLB Midwest League MVP in September after leading the high-A league in RBIs and helping lead the Cedar Rapids Kernels to their first league title in 20 years.
Rosario has made a name for himself as a home run artist in the minor leagues, homering in four games straight in July for the Kernels — and, in October while playing for the AFL’s Glendale Desert Dogs, hitting the third homer in a back-to-back-to-back home run streak to follow teammates Damon Keith and Bryan Ramos.
Rosario is currently the No. 19 prospect for the Twins, and ties fellow twins prospect Aaron Sabato to lead the AFL with seven home runs.
Rosario was drafted fresh out of high school in 2020, during the fifth round as the No. 158 overall pick.
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