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The Home Run Derby, which takes place in Arlington, Texas on July 15th, is undergoing a major format change this year. Each hitter will now have a limited number of pitches they can face in each round, with the first round and semifinals featuring either three minutes or 40 pitches, depending on which benchmark is reached first. In the final round, hitters will have two minutes or 27 pitches. Bonus periods will still be given to each hitter until they reach three outs during that period. If a hitter hits a home run over 425 feet in the bonus period, they will receive a fourth out.
Under the previous format, there was no restriction on the number of pitches hitters could face in any round. The opening round featured all eight hitters competing against each other and advancing to the semifinals based on their performance. The semifinalists were seeded according to their season home run totals and competed in a tournament-style format with one-on-one matchups in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship rounds.
The list of players participating in this year’s Home Run Derby has not been officially announced yet but Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson shared on social media that he will be taking part in it. Last year’s Home Run Derby was won by Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
