June 20 (UPI) -- Roy Hobbs has nothing on Eloy Jimenez.
The Chicago Cubs prospect was taking part in the Class A Advanced Carolina League Home Run Derby Monday night at Haley Toyota Field in Salem, Va. when he gave fans a great impression of The Natural. He lined up in the batter's box and went yard to left field. The ball towered through the night sky before slamming into a light bulb. Glass shattered and rained onto the field below.
More than 2,700 fans were in attendance for the event, according to Roanoke.com.
Despite the showing, Jimenez failed to reach the finals of the derby. Cleveland Indians prospect Sicnarf Loopstok and Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Gatewood hacked it out for the crown. Gatewood edged Loopstok 15 to 14 in the final round for the win.
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But Jimenez's shot might have left the most lasting impression on the fans, and the maintenance crew. His shot was reminiscent of a memorable scene from the 1984 film, which depicted the life of fictional ballplayer Roy Hobbs. Robert Redford played the role of the middle-aged minor leaguer. In the final scene of baseball classic, Hobbs clobbers a home run into the lights to win the pennant for the New York Knights.
Eloy Jimenez just went Roy Hobbs on the stadium lights. pic.twitter.com/wD2521SedW
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) June 20, 2017
Jimenez, 20, is hitting .278 with seven homers and 22 RBI for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, a High-A affiliate of the Cubs. He signed with the franchise in 2013 on a $2.8 million signing bonus.
He is ranked the No. 14 prospect of 2017 by Baseball America. Jimenez is a career .295 hitter with 31 home runs and 163 RBI in 239 minor league appearances.
Sicnarf Loopstock hit 17 HRs in the first round. At times he had two HR in the air at the same time pic.twitter.com/Ichkf5KPTM
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) June 20, 2017
