The magenta-tinged sphere sailed over the flock of children in right field, rising and rising, on a trajectory to crash in the second deck of Marlins Park. On the mound, Clay Bellinger raised his arms in triumph. Inside the batter’s box, Cody Bellinger grabbed his bat by the barrel and went to meet his dad. They embraced as the final seconds of Bellinger’s first round in the Home Run Derby ticked off the clock.
The most memorable part of Bellinger’s night — which ended a round later, vanquished by Yankees rookie Aaron Judge, the eventual champion — occurred in that moment.