The 2024 Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field is Monday, July 15, beginning at 5 p.m. PT. It’s airing live on ESPN and can also be streamed via DirecTV Stream, Fubo, ESPN+ and Watch ESPN app.
The group of eight participants are split evenly amongst players representing the American League and National League. The annual Derby has been won by an NL player four of the last five events.
Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Shohei Ohtani expressed interest in participating but ultimately decided to skip doing so for the second time in his career.
“There’s been some conversations going on,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “I’m in the middle of my rehab progression, so it doesn’t look like I’ll be participating.”
New York Yankees teammates Juan Soto and Aaron Judge also declined to participate. Soto won the 2022 Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium and Judge was crowned champion in 2017.
Home Run Derby field & bracket
The group of players in the 2024 Home Run Derby are Pete Alonso, Alec Bohm, Adolis García, Gunnar Henderson, Teoscar Hernández, Marcell Ozuna, Jose Ramírez and Bobby Witt Jr.
Hernández is participating for the first time and Alonso is looking to tie Ken Griffey Jr.’s MLB record as a three-time Home Run Derby champion.
New Derby rules
Notable rules changes this year include eliminating a bracket format for the opening round. Instead, all eight hitters will take swings for up to three minutes or maximum of 40 pitches.
The hitters with the top-four highest scores advance to the semifinals and at that point the Home Run Derby bracket will return. If there is a tie between two players in the first round, determining who advances, or potential seeding for the semifinals will be based on which hit the furthest home run.
In the semifinals and championship round, tiebreakers are to be determined with a 60-second swing-off. Any ties beyond that would be decided with three-swing swing-offs.
The first round and semifinals both are only three minutes long or 40 pitches. The final round is two minutes or 27 pitches. Hitters still have one timeout permitted in all three rounds.
The conclusion of each round will see Derby competitors granted three bonus outs, which replaces 30 seconds of additional time in previous years. A fourth bonus out is granted if hitting a home run that travels more than 425 feet.
Does Home Run Derby champion win money?
MLB and the Players Association (MLBPA) reached an agreement prior to the 2019 season that increased the Home Run Derby prize pool from $725,000 to $2.5 million.
The Home Run Derby winner receives $1 million.
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