It was a Home Run Derby final of the rookie vs. the veteran. And the veteran came out on top.That veteran was a mere 23 years old, however.It's hard to believe the Nationals star Juan Soto was the vet in this scenario, as he was making his second Home Run Derby appearance after falling in the semifinals a year ago to eventual champion Jake Smolinski Jersey Pete Alonso. Soto, already in his fifth season of Major League Baseball, was facing Mariners 21-year-old rookie Julio Rodriguez, who had stunned the world with 63 home runs through the first two rounds, which included eliminating the reigning back-to- Sonny Gray Jersey back champion Alonso.Rodriguez hit 18 home runs to start off the finals, and after a slow start, Soto began to put it together. It was 45 seconds into his round before Soto tallied his first homer, but he poured it on late, and walked off Rodriguez with his 19th in his bonus time.THREE ROUNDSTHREE WALK-OFFSJUAN. SOTO. // Washington Nationals (@Nationals) Soto's win came in the midst of a complicated period for him, as he recently turned down a ma sive extension from the Nationals and .MORE: The matchup was the youngest Home Run Derby final in the history of the event. But just where does Soto rank among the youngest winners? The Sporting News breaks it down. Soto could not have Josh Phegley Jersey been much closer to setting the record for the youngest player ever to win the Home Run Derby. Alas, he is second to Juan Gonzalez, the 1993 champion.The difference? One day.Here's a look at the youngest Home Run Derby champions:YearBatterAge1993Juan Gonzalez23 years, 8 months, 23 days2022Juan Soto23 years, 8 months, 24 days1986Darryl Strawberry24 years, 0 months, 28 days1986Wally Joyner24 years, 4 months, 2 days2019Pete Alonso24 years, 7 months, 1 day1994Ken Griffey Jr.24 years, 7 months, 20 days2009Prince Fielder25 years, 2 months, 4 days2017Aaron Blank Jersey Judge25 years, 2 months, 14 days2018Bryce Harper25 years, 9 months, 0 days2021Pete Alonso26 years, 7 months, 5 daysHad Rodriguez won, he would have been the youngest at 21 years, 6 months and 20 days. He also would have been the first Home Run Derby champion born in the year 2000 or later.MORE:Back in 2010, David Ortiz became the oldest player to win the Home Run Derby, when at 34 years, 7 months and 24 days, he hoisted the trophy. Soto's win on Monday came while he is likely faced with plenty of off-field distractions. that would have been the richest contract in MLB history, prompting the Nationals to begin entertaining trade offers for the young superstar.Teams that potentially have the prospect capital to make a move for him include the , .MORE: Before the Home Run Jurickson Profar Jersey Derby, Soto expre sed how this situation has made him feel uncomfortable heading into the All-Star break."I don't know, I haven't talked to anybody to tell me how that changed or what was the mindset but ... a couple weeks ago they were saying they would never trade me and now, all these things have came out," Soto said. "It feels really uncomfortable. You don't know what to trust. But at the end of the day, it's out of Brett Anderson Jersey my hands of what decision they make."For now, Soto made it clear.Im a champion with the Nationals.