MLB Home Run Derby rules, explained [Updated 2023]
In recent years, the rules for the Home Run Derby have changed. Here are rules for it.
The rules have changed for the MLB Home Run Derby in recent years. Before the Home Run Derby takes place at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Monday, here are the rules that you should know for it.
There are eight players that will be participating. They are placed in seeds with No. 1 facing No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5.
This year, the participants will be:
- 1. White Sox OF Luis Robert Jr. vs. 8. Orioles C Adley Rutschman
- 2. Mets 1B Pete Alonso vs. 7. Mariners OF Julio Rodriguez
- 3. Dodgers OF/IF Mookie Betts vs. 6. Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- 4. Rangers OF Adolis Garcia vs. 5. Rays OF Randy Arozarena
The bracket is a single-elimination bracket with three rounds. The higher seed in each matchup always hits second.
MLB Home Run Derby rules
Rules have changed over the history of the derby, but the ones put in place in 2021 have remained the same for three contests now.
Each hitter has three minutes in both the first and second rounds to hit as many home runs as possible. The time is reduced to two minutes in the final round. 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 after the pitch is released. If the second contestant in the matchup exceeds their opponent’s home run total, the round ends regardless of where the time is.
Each player gets 30 seconds of bonus time after the regulation time expires. If a player hits a home run that’s at least 440 feet during the round, they will receive an additional 30 seconds. Also, each player has one timeout that is 45 seconds in each round. However, timeouts cannot be called during bonus time.
In the event of a tie in any round, they’re broken by a 60-second tiebreaker with no bonus time or timeouts. If there’s still a tie after that, the contestants will engage in successive three-swing swing-offs until there is a winner.
The winner of the Home Run Derby will receive $1 million. The remaining seven participants split $1.5 million. This $2.5 million pool was increased from $750,000 before the 2019 Home Run Derby.