Texas Tech University Athletics
Gutierrez Heads Back to College Home Run Derby
June 23, 2015 | Baseball
Eric Gutierrez will return to TD Ameritrade Park on July 2 for the sixth-annual College Home Run Derby. The event will begin at 7:30 p.m. and air live on ESPN.
June 23, 2015
Gutierrez will look to repeat his performance from a year ago where he belted a College Home Run Derby record 52 home runs, practically destroying the previous mark of 20 set by Rice's Michael Aquino in 2013.
Gutierrez connected on 15 home runs in the opening round alone and then added 19 in round two to advance to finals against Texas catcher and former Sharyland High School teammate Tres Barrera. Gutierrez followed with 18 home runs in the finals, seven shy of Barrera's total to finish second overall.
Gutierrez' 52 home runs were the most for any participant in the event. Barrera, meanwhile, finished with 41 home runs after belting an event-record 25 in the final round alone.
This is just the third time in College Home Run Derby history where a participant has returned in back-to-back years as Daniel Aldrich (College of Charleston) competed in 2011-12 while Michael Aquino took part in both the 2013-14 events.
Gutierrez rounded out another solid season at the plate in 2015 as he hit .315 to go along with four home runs, 14 doubles and a team-leading 46 RBI. He ended the year ranked second in the Big 12 in RBI and also ranked among the league leaders in walks, on-base percentage and multiple-hit games.
The performance earned Gutierrez several postseason honors, including mention to the All-Big 12 first team and the All-Midwest Region second team compiled by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).
In addition to his work offensively, Gutierrez was named the top defensive first baseman in college baseball after garnering ABCA Rawlings Gold Glove honors. He was just the second Red Raider in school history to earn the prestigious award.
Gutierrez is currently slated to compete against fellow collegiate standouts Will Craig (Wake Forest), Jeff Campbell (North Dakota) and Colton Shaver (BYU). The remainder of the College Home Run Derby field will be announced in the upcoming days.
Tech's Eric Gutierrez is headed back to the @CollegeHRDerby on July 2 at 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. @Eric2824 was the runner-up last year.
- David Collier (@CollieronKLBK) June 23, 2015
