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Jackson’s Caden Bogenpohl joins elite company in winning Power Showcase Amateur Home Run Derby
Anytime a baseball player is mentioned alongside Bryce Harper, people will listen.
Jackson’s Caden Bogenpohl joined the company of Harper by joining him as a champion of the Power Showcase Amateur Home Run Derby on Nov. 24 at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
Harper won the derby in 2009 and recorded a 502-foot home run. Bogenpohl outdid him just a little. He won the derby on Nov. 24 and recorded a 503-foot home run.
“When I hit it, I didn’t know how significant that was,” Bogenpohl said. “I’m in the talks with Bryce Harper and Blaze Jordan. To think I hit a ball farther than Bryce Harper is pretty crazy.”
Bogenpohl’s hitting coach Shane Eames knew the director of the derby and passed his name along and quickly things came to fruition.
“We talked about the event and all the past guys that have been there,” Bogenpohl said. “Me and my dad talked about it and thought it would be a good idea to go down there and get some more exposure.”
In the preliminary round, Bogenpohl posted seven home runs and earned a trip to the finals on a wild card spot because he hit the longest home run.
In the finals, Bogenpohl went up against Evan Saunders and Seth Farni, the reigning champion of the event.
“Anything I compete in, I’m always trying to win,” Bogenpohl said. “When I went down there I wanted to win it all and luckily I got the chance to do that.”
Saunders hit one home run to kick off the finals, and Farni followed that up with an eight-home-run effort.
That wasn’t nearly enough.
Bogenpohl reeled off 19 home runs to win the event.
“I was just trying to take it all in,” Bogenpohl said. “When you’re competing against 55 guys from across the country, it’s crazy to think that I came out on top, but that’s what you work for and dream of.”
On top of winning the derby, Bogenpohl also signed his letter of intent to play college baseball at Missouri State.
“It’s a really good program,” Bogenpohl said. “Keith Guttin, the head coach, has been there 40-plus years, which speaks a lot to me. It’s a perfect spot and a great opportunity.”
Bogenpohl said the coaching staff was one of the biggest factors in his decision.
“If you’re around over 40 years you have to be doing something right,” Bogenpohl said.
Along with Guttin, Missouri State assistant coach Joey Hawkins played a big part in recruiting Bogenpohl to the Bears.
“Joey Hawkins played at Missouri State and then went to the pros and then came back,” Bogenpohl said. “That was really big for me, because if you’re going to want to come back to your college it shows how good coach Guttin was and how good he is with his guys.”
Bogenpohl is looking forward to beginning his senior campaign.
“Expectations are high for the team and myself,” Bogenpohl said. “We return eight starters, so we want to go as deep as possible.”