Major League Baseball has made significant changes to the 2024 All-Star Home Run Derby on Sunday night. The event will take place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on July 15th. The adjustments to the rules were prompted by feedback from previous participants who felt that the competition was moving too quickly.
In each of the three timed rounds of the competition, players will now face a maximum of 40 pitches. Previously, the Derby had adopted a fast-paced format where batters and pitchers rushed through as many swings as possible, resulting in an average of over 43 swings per round during last year’s event. This pace raised concerns about fatigue and potential injury risks for participants.
However, despite unchanged time limits for each round, batters can earn bonus time by hitting exceptionally long home runs. This bonus time will not be counted against the clock, allowing players to continue hitting until they surpass their opponents. The format of the competition has also been modified; the top four first-round scores will advance to the semifinals, with tiebreakers based on the longest home run hit in the initial round.
The full lineup of participants for this year’s Home Run Derby has not yet been announced; however, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has confirmed his participation. Henderson tied for second most home runs in MLB behind Aaron Judge last season and is excited to compete in his first Home Run Derby. Last year’s champion Vladimir Guerrero Jr., of Toronto Blue Jays won’t be defending his title in this upcoming event.
These changes are designed to slow down the game and make it more enjoyable for fans and participants alike while maintaining its competitive nature.
