The 2024 MLB All-Star Break is just two weeks away. Yet only one Home Run Derby participant has been confirmed: Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson.
Henderson is currently second in the American League in dingers with 26, behind only Aaron Judge's 32. Judge won the Derby back in 2017 and has not competed since. The only other player with more home runs than Henderson is the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani. Both Judge and Ohtani have declined the opportunity to participate in this year's Derby.
So, as we approach this year's midsummer festivities, the anticipation is building. There has been virtually no word on who will fill the remaining seven spots, but with the popularity of the event rising in recent years and new rules being put in place to make it even more riveting this time around, the anticipation is palpable.
Here are the latest rumors surrounding the event.
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Orioles sensation Gunnar Henderson dropped a gem during ESPN’s "Sunday Night Baseball" broadcast when he revealed he would participate in the Home Run Derby. As of this writing, he is the only known participant.
The 2024 Home Run Derby will feature a slightly new format than in years past. The event will no longer be a strict tournament style, as we've seen. Instead, all eight hitters will compete against one another in the first round, with the four best performers advancing to the knockout-style semifinals. The semifinals will see the competitors ranked 1-4 based on how many home runs they hit in the first round. Tiebreakers will be determined by each hitter's longest home run.
Through the first two rounds, each hitter will have three minutes, or 40 total pitches (whichever comes first), to rack up as many home runs as they can. Each will be granted one 45-second timeout that can be used whenever but cannot be used during bonus time. The finals will only grant hitters two minutes or 27 pitches (excluding bonus time).
The 2024 MLB Home Run Derby will be on July 15 at 8 p.m. ET. It will air on ESPN.
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Outside of Henderson, the Orioles have also been "advocating" for outfielder Anthony Santander to join this year's field.
Santander is in the midst of a breakout season, on pace for 40 home runs, which would blow his previous career-best (33) out of the water.
The last time a team had two players compete in the same Home Run Derby was 2018, when both Javier Baez and Kyle Schwarber of the Chicago Cubs were in the lineup. Baez lost in the first round, while Schwarber would go on to lose in the finals to Bryce Harper. 2017 saw two pairs of teammates go at it with the Yankees' Aaron Judge (eventual winner) and Gary Sanchez participate alongside the Miami Marlins' Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Bour. The All-Star Game was being held in Miami that year, so it makes sense that the Marlins would be well-represented.
Another 2024 breakout star, Elly de la Cruz is one of the most exciting players in baseball today. However, he will not be participating in this year's Home Run Derby. On June 29, de la Cruz told reporters that he had declined the derby invite for the second consecutive year, citing that it is "not [his] time."
Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill may have cooled off from his scorching start to the season, but he still has 16 home runs despite missing a decent chunk of time in late May, early June. By the end of April, O'Neill had nine home runs and was headed for a career year in the dinger department. When asked on April 28 whether or not he'd be interested in joining this year's Home Run Derby lineup, he responded with pure enthusiasm, relishing in the prospect.
A member of the Boston Red Sox has not participated in the Home Run Derby since David Ortiz in 2011.
Garcia competed in the event in 2023, and although he was fun to watch, the takeaway seemed to be that Garcia's pitcher was not doing him any favors. Here is fans' lighthearted take.
With the Texas Rangers hosting this year's All-Star Game festivities, it only seems right that Garcia would be given another shot.
Witt may not be having the most prolific home run-hitting season, but his pop is undeniable. He ranks in the 92nd percentile in average exit velocity and in the 89th percentile in hard hit rate.
Witt is just five years removed from being drafted second overall out of Colleyville Heritage High School, a short 20-minute drive from Globe Life Field. It would be nice to see fans who cheered for him in high school get an opportunity to see him on a much bigger stage half a decade later.
With more than 250 career home runs on his resume, it's hard to believe that Ozuna has never competed in the Derby before. Ozuna is having undoubtedly the best offensive year of his career, and with so few people confirming their participation, Ozuna should have every opportunity to throw his hat in the ring.
Alvarez has long been established as one of the best hitters in baseball, but 2024 could be considered a down year for the slugger. He's recorded only 18 home runs and only a .910 OPS through July 2. How tragic.
All jokes aside, Alvarez is a Home Run Derby icon waiting to happen, and with the Texas Rangers hosting this year's event, having one player represent the team's in-state rivals could be a fun addition.
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