The 2022 MLB Home Run Derby is finally upon us, with a number of different big names taking place in the prestigious event at Dodger Stadium in sunny Los Angeles. In this post, we'll lay out how to watch the event, start time, preview, participants, and the rules.
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MLB Home Run Derby Info, Time, Participants, Format, Preview
The Home Run Derby will begin at 8 PM ET on Monday, July 18th, and can be seen exclusively on ESPN. The event is also available on ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes and the ESPN App in the United States.
As for participants, it's a star-studded lineup:
- Pete Alonso, New York Mets
- Ronald Acuna Jr, Atlanta Braves
- Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
- Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies
- Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners
- Juan Soto, Washington Nationals
- Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
- Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Chavez Ravine will be the scene for a homer-filled evening. This is how the seeding will work, based on each player's HR total through July 13th:
No. 1 Schwarber (28) vs. No. 8 Pujols (6)
No. 2 Alonso (23) vs. No. 7 Acuña (8)
No. 3 Seager (21) vs. No. 6 Rodríguez (15)
No. 4 Soto (19) vs. No. 5 Ramírez (17)
As for the Home Run Derby format, it's the same as in past years. It is single-elimination with three rounds in total for each hitter, with the higher seed batting second. Each participant will have three minutes in the first and second rounds then just two minutes in the final round. But once a player passes the HR total of his opponent, the clock will stop and the round will be done. There is also a bonus round of 30 seconds.
The winner of Schwarber vs Pujols faces the winner of Soto vs Ramirez. On the other side of the bracket, the winner of Seager vs Rodriguez takes on the winner of Alonso vs Acuna.
Pete Alonso will be looking to make history in LA. If he wins his third Home Run Derby, the Mets slugger will be only the second player to ever do so, joining Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. Alonso has gone deep 24 times this season and is easily one of the most feared power hitters in the sport.
Albert Pujols is a bit of a surprise here but his return to the derby is surely going to be a hit with fans. at 42 years of age, he will become the oldest player to ever participate in the event, and with his 685 home runs, he's the leading participant in long balls. Barry Bonds was in it in 2004 with 681 bombs. There isn't a lot expected out of Pujols, but the fact that he's going to be at the event is special in itself.
Julio Rodriguez meanwhile, is only the 14th rookie to be in the Home Run Derby and will be hoping to put his name alongside Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso as the only first-year player to win it all. He's taken the big leagues by storm, slugging 15 homers in 88 games for the Mariners.
Ronald Acuna Jr and Juan Soto are both very, very powerful and can't be counted out, but arguably the purest HR hitter in the derby is Kyle Schwarber. He'll definitely be a favorite to take out Pujols in the opening round. The Phillies star has tape-measure power and finished second in the Home Run Derby in 2017 behind Bryce Harper.
This should be a very fun night in Southern California.
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