2024 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby Explained

Year:2024
Date:July 15, 2024
Venue:Globe Life Field
City:Arlington, Texas
Winner:Teoscar Hernández
Score:14–13

The 2024 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby was a home run hitting contest between eight batters from Major League Baseball (MLB). The derby was held on July 15, 2024, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, the site of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. The event was won by Teoscar Hernández of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The opening of the derby was quickly buzzed on social media networks and news sites for its off-key performance of the national anthem by country artist Ingrid Andress, who later admitted to being drunk and stated that she would be entering rehab.[1]

Rules

Round one

The contestants are allowed 40 pitches, which must all be thrown in three minutes or less, to hit as many home runs as possible. The timer begins with the release of the first pitch, and the round ends when the timer hits zero. A home run will count if the timer hits zero, so long as the pitch was released beforehand. Each contestant is entitled to one 45-second timeout in each regulation period.

After the time expires, the contestants enter a bonus period, where they attempt to hit as many home runs as possible before they record three outs (any swing that is not a home run). There is no time limit in the bonus period. Additionally, if a contestant hits a home run that travels at least 425feet during the bonus period, they earn an additional out to work with.

Ties in this round are broken by the distance of each contestant's longest home run. The top four contestants advance to the next round.

Semifinals

The contestants are seeded based on their performance in the previous round (1 vs 4, 2 vs 3). The lower seed in each matchup will hit first.

The rules of the round remain the same as in round one. Ties in this round are broken by a 60-second tiebreaker with no bonus period or timeouts. If a tie remains, the contestants will engage in successive three-swing swing-offs until there is a winner. The winners of each matchup advance to the finals.

Finals

In the final round, the time limit is shortened to two minutes and the pitch limit is shortened to 27 pitches. The timeout and bonus period rules remain the same, while the tiebreaker rules carry over from the semifinals. The contestant with the most home runs is declared champion.[2] [3]

Results

Globe Life Field, Arlington[4] [5]
PlayerTeamRound oneSemifinalsFinalsTotal
Teoscar HernándezDodgers 1914 (2) 14 49
Bobby Witt Jr.Royals201713 50
Alec BohmPhillies2114 (1) 36
José RamírezGuardians211233
Adolis GarcíaRangers1818
Marcell OzunaBraves1616
Pete AlonsoMets1212
Gunnar HendersonOrioles1111

* Round went into a swing-off after Bohm and Hernández were tied 14–14 after regulation.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Respers France. Lisa. Ingrid Andress says she’s checking into rehab after viral national anthem performance: ‘I was drunk last night’ . ESPN. July 16, 2024. July 16, 2024.
  2. Web site: Olney. Buster. Home Run Derby rule changes aimed at reducing frantic pace. espn.com. ESPN. June 30, 2024. June 30, 2024.
  3. Web site: Jacobson. Cole. New Home Run Derby format, rules announced. mlb.com. MLB. June 30, 2024. June 30, 2024.
  4. Web site: The complete 2024 HR Derby field is set. mlb.com. MLB. July 10, 2024. July 10, 2024.
  5. Web site: Home Run Derby. mlb.com. MLB. July 15, 2024. July 15, 2024.