Personally, I like the Home Run Derby just as much, if not more than the actual All-Star Game. But, then again, I love to watch the entire weekend including the Futures Game and even the Celebrity Softball game. But, this year, one of them is getting tweaked, not a face lift, just tweaked. But, the first round of the 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby will look and play much different, which will make the subsequent rounds do the same, here are the changes.
The regular season means nothing now
For the last few years now the Derby has been an eight person single elimination tournament. It was set up as an eight person bracket where the #1 seed faced the #8 seed, the #2 seed faced the #7 seed and so on. Those seeds were determined by the number of home runs the participants hit in the regular season. Well, as the headline states, the regular season has no bearing on the Home Run Derby this year. The field will still be eight players, but all eight players will participate together and the four players with the most home runs will then move on to the second round of play. If, by chance there is a tie, the person who hit the longest home run out of those two tied players will advance to the second round.
When the four players go into the second round, they will be seeded. But, the seedings will be based upon the number of home runs the players hit in the first round of the Derby. Then, #1 seed will take on the #4 seed and the #2 and #3 seeds will meet to determine the final two for the face-off in the end to crown a champion.
MLB finally makes a rule change without changing the time?
Okay, I had a little fun with that headline. But, it is true, the time allowed for the rounds will still be the same, but, there is now a pitch limit. Last year the time of the rounds were three minutes for the first two rounds and two minutes for the third round, and that will not change. But, now there is a pitch limit. The first two rounds will be three minutes or forty pitches which ever comes first, with the third round being two minutes or 27 pitches whichever comes first.
That differs from last year’s rules. Before, as soon as the umpire motioned to the pitcher when he knew the previous pitch was going to be either a home run or not, the pitcher could immediately throw the next pitch. The more the hitter and pitcher were in sink with each other, the more pitches he saw, and the more pitches could potentially become home runs. The other aspect the pitch number will do to the Derby is keep hitters from taking pitches. With a limited amount of pitches each one you don’t swing at counts against you.
will there still be bonus pitches and time outs?
Yes, and yes. Each round the players can elect to take a 45 second time out whenever they want. But, there are no allowed time outs during the bonus period, that is really not a bonus period anymore. Let me explain. Last year the players were awarded 30 second bonus periods when you hit a home run 440 or more feet. The player could also get an additional 30 second period if they hit a second home run 440 feet or beyond in the regulation time period for a total of an additional 60 seconds of bonus time. This year it doesn’t matter how far you hit them, as long as they go over the fence.
This year the bonus periods is how many home runs can you hit before you record 3 outs. You can also get an extra out if you hit a home run of 425 feet during the bonus periods.
This makes the bonus periods very intriguing. You can take pitches in the bonus rounds, you have no time limit in the bonus rounds, and the players will be trying to hit a ball further in the bonus rounds to get that elusive extra out.
I like the new rules of the Home Run Derby. I especially like how all eight players have the same chance in the opening round. And I like the fact that the bonus rounds are both more intriguing and more impactful. I will be watching the 2024 Home Run Derby on ESPN July 15th from Globe Life Field in Arlington Texas. And I think the new rules will make it a better watch.
Photo Credit; WVNS, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, The Dallas Morning News,
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