MLB was widely praised for its switch to a timed format at the Home Run Derby in 2015, a switch that also introduced a bracket to the derby. Over the years, however, the format led to some unintended consequences.
Each player's round became rushed as hitters and their pitchers tried to fit in as many pitches as possible in their timed window, and the overall product suffered at times because hitters easily became exhausted and pitchers were often unable to focus on delivering the best pitch.
MLB has implemented changes to try and remedy those issues while still largely sticking with the concept of a timed round. Plenty will look the same, but the finer details will be a bit different and the path to advancing past the first round will be considerably different than it was last year.
Here's a full breakdown of the Home Run Derby format and the rules each player will follow.
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Home Run Derby format and rules
First round
Last year, a bracket was set up based on each player's home run total from the first half of the season. That structure is gone. There will be no bracket in the first round, as all eight hitters will take their turn, and the top four home run hitters will simply advance to the semifinals.
That means a scenario in which a player excels in the first round but gets beaten out by a dominant opponent -- exactly what happened to Adley Rutschman last year -- is gone.
Each player will have three minutes in the first round, but there's one major change: they can face a maximum of 40 pitches in those three minutes, in an attempt to reduce the rushed cadence of the round. Each player gets one timeout.
One more major change is that bonus time becomes bonus outs. Each player receives three bonus outs, meaning they can keep hitting until they've produced three swings that don't result in a home run. A home run that goes at least 425 feet earns a hitter a fourth bonus out.
The major ramification is that a player trailing by a significant margin can theoretically make up the deficit, something that wasn't necessarily true with limited bonus time.
A tie would be broken by the longest home run of any hitters who finish the first round with the same number of home runs.
Semifinals
A bracket will be formed after the first round based on home run totals from that opening round. The player who hits the most home runs in the first round will face the player who had the fourth-highest home run total, while No. 2 and No. 3 will battle in the other semifinal matchup.
The semifinals will otherwise follow the same structure as the first round, with hitters receiving three minutes, a timeout, and three bonus outs.
Finals
The winner of each semifinal matchup will advance to the finals.
The structure changes a bit in the finals, as each player will receive two minutes and a maximum of 27 pitches. Bonus rules stay the same, with each player receiving three bonus outs with the potential to earn a fourth. That could set up some tense moments at the end of the night.
What happens if there is a tie?
Ties in the first round will be determined by the longest home run between players who hit the same number of home runs. Because there aren't any head-to-head matchups in the first round, no swing-offs will be necessary.
If a tie occurs in the semifinals or finals, a 60-second swing-off will be held to determine a winner. A tie after a swing-off would set up swing-offs consisting of three swings until a winner is determined.
Do hitters get timeouts?
Hitters receive one timeout in each round. Each player will also have a brief break before their bonus swings.
MORE: Full look at MLB All-Star Game rosters
Who is in the Home Run Derby?
The following players will participate in the 2024 Home Run Derby:
- Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
- Alec Bohm, Phillies
- Pete Alonso, Mets
- Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
- Marcell Ozuna, Braves
- TBD
- TBD
- TBD
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