Patriots

Rob Gronkowski goes deep, wins celebrity home run derby in Buffalo

Print | Comments () Posted by Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff July 10, 2012 09:01 AM

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By Steve Silva, Boston.com Staff

The Red Sox could use a guy like Rob Gronkowski.

The big Patriots tight end won a celebrity home run derby last night at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo, NY, with one long blast reportedly landing nearly 400 feet from home plate.

Gronkowski, a nearby Williamsville, NY, native, beat out Buffalo Bills CEO Russ Brandon, who was a hall of fame baseball player at St. John Fisher, to win the celebrity derby.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Gronkowski hit 12 home runs over two rounds at the event. In the final round, Gronkowski hit eight over the fence while Brandon finished with seven.

Other participants in the celebrity home run derby included Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta, Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, and actor Nick Bakay.

The event preceded the Triple-A home run derby event taking place in Buffalo as part of the minor league baseball All-Star festivities. For the celebrity derby, a shorter fence was placed midway through the outfield.

More video of Gronkowski belting homers follows from WIVB TV in Buffalo:

Gronkowski wins celebrity home run derby

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