Great Lakes Loons outfielder Carlos Rincon bats during Monday’s Midwest League Home Run Derby. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)

Great Lakes Loons outfielder Carlos Rincon blasted 38 home runs — including 20 in the final round — to win the Midwest League Home Run Derby in front of a favorable crowd at Dow Diamond.

He faced Lansing Lugnuts third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the final round. Guerrero went deep 24 times during the three-round competition, but managed only five homers in the last round.

Also participating in the contest were Fort Wayne TinCaps shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., West Michigan Whitecaps first baseman Blaise Salter, Whitecaps third baseman Josh Lester, Bowling Green Hot Rods outfielder Jesus Sanchez, Loons infielder Brendon Davis, and Kane County Cougars outfielder Marcus Wilson.

Rincon was the only participant not selected to play in Tuesday’s Midwest League All-Star Game, but the league allowed him to be part of the Home Run Derby as a representative of the host team. (Davis was a late addition to the derby.)

The Home Run Derby lasted longer into the night than planned because of periodic rain throughout the evening. Heavy rain delayed the start of the contest and caused a second delay two batters into the derby. Some lighter rain fell later, but the contest continued through it.

The grounds crew put the tarp on the field as ominous clouds approached following completion of the High School All-Star Game. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)

There was a silver lining to all the rain. Actually, it was more colorful than that. Rainbows appeared twice. I didn’t get a great photo of the first one, but I shot lots of pics of the second one. I wasn’t in position to shoot across the field at the rainbow like some other people were, so I used different framing ideas, including some baseball-themed ones involving the “Road to the Show” display. Here is one of them:

Rainbow over the “Road to the Show” sign at Dow Diamond. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)