ARLINGTON -- With José Ramírez in the 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field, the intrigue was not just how many homers he would hit, but which side of the plate he’d hit them from.

A late decision to swing lefty paid off for Ramírez, as the Guardians' superstar hitter was able to advance to the second round of the swatting showcase Monday night -- something he had been unable to do at Dodger Stadium in 2022. Ramírez tied the Phillies’ Alec Bohm atop the leaderboard with 21 homers in an opening round in which the players with the top four totals advanced.

But Ramírez’s run came to an end in an AL Central showdown in the second round, when he was pitted against the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr., who outdid Ramírez by a 17-12 count.

"Man, he came out victorious in this one," Ramírez said of Witt through interpreter Agustin Rivero. "He was competing in this one, and he had a hell of a competition."

Having dealt with a right thumb injury that ultimately required surgery in 2022, Ramírez was healthier for his second Derby try. And his decision to hit lefty was interesting.

Though the raw numbers -- 165 career homers from the left-hand side and 74 from the right -- indicate that Ramírez is more powerful from the left-hand side, his home run percentage from the two sides is identical -- 4.1%.

Talk about a toss-up.

But Ramírez has said before that he feels he generates more raw power from the right. That’s why he batted from that side in the 2022 Home Run Derby and in dinger derbies in his native Dominican Republic.

And that was the plan Monday night -- to bat right-handed. But after taking batting practice at Globe Life Field, Ramírez opted instead to switch it up.

"When I was hitting in the cage," he explained, "things were flowing a little better from the left side."

He found success by routinely lining the ball over the wall in right-center and inside of the foul pole. His dingers weren’t as deep as those of some of his peers (maxing out at 419 feet), but they were consistent -- just like this six-time All-Star.

Distance matters in this contest, though, because, in the three-out bonus period in each round, each homer of 425 feet or more buys a batter an extra out. Ramírez could have used some extra outs when he fell short against Witt.

"In the second round, I was thinking of going righty," he said, "but I stuck to the plan."

Junior Betances, a longtime coach in the Cleveland system who is currently hitting coach at Triple-A Columbus, threw to Ramírez in the Derby, as he had in 2022.

This was the seventh time a Cleveland player participated in the Derby, though none have won it. The only switch-hitter to win the Derby was co-winner Ruben Sierra of the Rangers, who tied the Reds' Eric Davis in 1989.

Ramírez said he wanted to do the Derby because of the wishes of his mother, Silveria Mateo.

"I didn’t win, but I’m pretty sure she saw that I did my best and competed," he said, "and that’s what matters."