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In 1985, a long-standing tradition emerged as many of Major League Baseball's best home run hitters competed at the All-Star Game in the Home Run Derby. This year is no exception, with some rules changes, but the excitement over who will claim victory remains unchanged.
Before you head to the Home Run Derby—whether you're watching it live at the stadium or from home—there are a few key things to know. First, familiarize yourself with the updated rules, which evolved over the years. While players have had to adapt to these changes, one constant remains: to showcase and celebrate the league's power hitters. Here are the 2024 Home Run Derby rules explained.
The Home Run Derby will feature eight hitters in the first round, with no set seeds (a competitor or team given an initial ranking for a draw). The top four hitters advance to the semifinals, and seeds will be based on the number of home runs in that round, not on regular season performance.
Each round lasts three minutes. Hitters can face a maximum of pitches: 40 in the first round and semifinals and 27 in the finals. The round ends when the time is up, or the maximum number of pitches is reached, whichever comes first. If players hit the same number of home runs in the first round, the tie-breaker is who hit the longest home run. In terms of bonus pitches, each player now gets extra pitches until they make three outs during that time instead of getting just a 30-second extra time.
Although some rules have changed this year, one thing is clear: the top hitters will all compete together in the Derby. It’s the ultimate superhero team-up, with more home runs and fewer capes.
