Major League Baseball announced changes to the 2024 All-Star Home Run Derby on Sunday night. The event is scheduled to take place on July 15 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The adjustments to the rules were made in response to feedback from previous participants who felt the event was moving too quickly.
In each of the three timed rounds of the competition, players will now face a maximum of 40 pitches. In previous years, the Derby had adopted a fast-paced format where batters and pitchers rushed through as many swings as possible. The average number of swings per round exceeded 43 during last year’s event, prompting concerns about fatigue and potential injury risks.
Although the time limits for each round remain unchanged, 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, with the top four first-round scores advancing to the semifinals and tiebreakers based on the longest home run hit in the initial round.
While the full lineup of participants has not been revealed yet, Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson has been confirmed as one of the contenders. Henderson, who is tied for the second-most home runs in MLB behind Aaron Judge, expressed his excitement for his first competitive Home Run Derby. Last year’s champion, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, will not be defending his title in the upcoming event.