2014 Home Run Derby new format explained

Monday night marks the date of the 2014 Home Run Derby. The goal is simple: smack the ball over the fence as many times as you can.

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However, this year will feature a new format that Major League Baseball is hoping will be more of a success than the dreadful makeover the NBA had for the Slam Dunk Competition.

So, how does the new format work?

There will be a bracket setup for the 2014 derby, with the American League and National League split.

The winners from each league will then face off in the final to determine the winner.

Here is an explanation of how the new format will work, via ESPN.com:

"Round 1• Ten participants total; five participants representing each league.• The batting order will be determined prior to the event. Hitter No. 1 for the NL will hit first followed by Hitter No. 1 for the AL. This order will continue for hitters Nos. 2-5 for each league, with the NL going first, followed by the AL.• Each participant will receive seven outs.• The player from each league who hits the most home runs (AL 1, NL 1) will automatically advance to Round 3 (semifinals).• The next two participants with the most home runs from each league (AL 2, AL 3/NL 2, NL 3) advance to Round 2.Round 2• The two participants advancing from Round 1 for each league will compete against each other (AL 2 vs. AL 3/NL 2 vs. NL 3).• The NL matchup will occur first, followed by the AL matchup, with NL 2 and AL 2 choosing if they want to hit first or second.• Each participant will receive seven outs.• The winners from the Round 2 matchups (one from each league) will advance to Round 3 (semifinals).Round 3 (Semifinals)• The top seed from each league (AL 1, NL 1) will face the winner from his league’s Round 2 matchup.• The NL matchup will occur first, followed by the AL matchup, with NL 1 and AL 1 choosing if they want to hit first or second.• Each participant will receive seven outs.• The participant from each league with the most home runs will advance to the finals.Round 4 (Finals)• The semifinal winners (one player from each league) will compete for the crown of Home Run Derby champion.• The batting order will be determined by a coin flip, which will be held at a meeting at home plate between the two finalists and their league captains (note that a finalist and team captain could be the same person).• Each finalist will receive seven outs."

If there is a tie in any round, the batters will receive three swings. If there is a tie after that round, there will be one swing per player until we have a player to advance.

How can you tune in to tonight’s Home Run Derby as some of the top sluggers in the sport try to smash the ball out of the park for our entertainment? Here is all of the information you will need to make sure you don’t miss a swing:

Date: Monday, July 14
Start Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Venue: Target Field
TV Info: ESPN
Live Stream: MLB.tv and MLB At-Bat app

American League Participants:

• Captain: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays (17 HR)
• Josh Donaldson, Oakland Athletics (20 HR)
• Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics (14 HR)
• Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles (16 HR)
• Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins (16 HR)

National League Participants:

• Captain: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies (21 HR)
• Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (21 HR)
• Yasiel Puig, Los Angeles Dodgers (12 HR)
• Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds (17 HR)
• Justin Morneau, Colorado Rockies (13 HR)