Tag: 2024 Home Run Derby

Happy Home Run Derby to all those who celebrate!

We’ve got some big names slugging baseballs at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Monday in the 2024 edition (although Shohei Ohtani isn’t in it) that will be on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET. But there are changes this year to the rules and format, and if you’re watching, you might notice some changes.

So with that in mind, we wanted to walk you through those changes and what the format is this year. Here’s what’s not changing: hitting lots of home runs will absolutely win you a title.

Let’s run through the rules:

The rules and format for the first round

No longer will there be a bracket like we had in years past. Instead, every hitter will smash dingers, and the best four dingers will advance. Any ties will be broken by longest homer by distance.

The timing is key: you get three minutes to hit, but ALSO — if you get 40 pitches, the round ends.

How bonus rounds will work

At the end of that 40 pitches or three minutes — whichever comes first — you get three bonus outs that can be turned into four if you hit a dinger 425 feet or more.

The format and rules for the semifinals and finals

Remember that thing about no bracket? It was true until now. The four players are now seeded Nos. 1 through 4 based on their home run totals and will face off, head-to-head, with the same rules with three minutes or 40 pitches, plus the bonus rounds.

Then? It’s two minutes or 27 pitches, plus bonus rounds in the finals.

There you have it!

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The field is set for the 2023 Home Run Derby in Texas’s Globe Life Field on Monday night, but it’s just as important to know who’s tossing them the baseballs they have to hit out.

That’s because we’ve seen how important it’s been to have consistency — Pete Alonso’s pitcher, who’s back this year! — and when it’s a problem to have pitches go all over the place (see: Adolis Garcia’s pitcher last year).

So if you’re wondering who’s tossing to which star at the plate on Monday? You’ve come to the right place.

Here’s the full list of Home Run Derby pitchers as we get set for all the action:

Pete Alonso, New York Mets

He’ll bring back former Mets coach Dave Jauss, who was the pitcher when Alonso won the second of his Home Run Derby titles.

Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles

He’ll have Triple-A manager Buck Britton throwing pitches to him.

Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers

Per ESPN, he’s still figuring it out, but he might be leaning toward Tony Beasley, who’s the third-base coach for his squad.

Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

He’s bringing in Scott Wingo, who coached him while he was at Wichita State.

Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

It’ll be Junior Betances, who is the Columbus Clippers’ hitting coach.

Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves

Stepping up to the mound will be … a catcher! Specifically, Jose Yepez, who’s the Braves’ bullpen catcher.

Teoscar Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers

That would be Dino Ebel, the Dodgers’ third-base coach.

Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

He’s going with James Russell, who’s his brother-in-law … but he also pitched in the majors.

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It’s almost time for the annual MLB All-Star contest in which we get to watch baseballs get hit very long ways.

That’s right, the 2024 Home Run Derby is set for Monday night at the Rangers’ Globe Life Field in Arlington, and the lineup is a great one full of big names ready to wow us.

So let’s look at the power-hitting players who will be facing off on Monday — before Tuesday’s All-Star Game, of course — with one former winner in the mix, and they’ll be slugging in a new format that will be unveiled this year to give us what should be a great show:

Pete Alonso, New York Mets

Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies

Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles

Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers

Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves

Teoscar Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers

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