Our very own Cal Raleigh brought the Home Run Derby crown home to the Emerald City last year, but with him not defending his title, the door is wide open for a new slugger to take the throne. This year's Derby, set for Monday, July 13, at Citizens Bank Park in Philly, is bringing back an old school vibe with a wild new format that's got everyone talking.
The New School, Old School Rules Hit Philly
Forget the clock, because this year's Home Run Derby is ditching the timer for a pure swing-count battle, just like the good old days! It kicks off with eight sluggers in the first round, each getting a solid 20 swings. But here's the wild part: if a player absolutely crushes one on their 20th swing, they don't stop. Nope, they keep going, swing after swing, until they finally make an out. Potentially endless dingers! You hit one on your 20th, you get a 21st. Hit that one, get a 22nd. It's on and on until you make an out! When the dust settles, ties get busted by the longest home run distance. Only the top four total home run leaders move on, seeded 1-4 for the next stage.Sluggers Ready To Rumble, Including One With A Score To Settle
Once we're down to four guys, it's straight up head-to-head matchups: No. 1 battles No. 4, and No. 2 takes on No. 3. For these semifinal and final rounds, each slugger gets 15 swings. That bonus swing rule from the first round? It's still in play: hit a bomb on the 15th swing, and you keep going until an out. Any ties get broken with three extra swings each. It's high drama! Now, who's stepping up to the plate? Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies, playing in his home park, comes in as the MLB leader in home runs and the favorite at +310 odds. Another Phillies slugger, Bryce Harper, also joins the field. Harper won the Derby in 2019, beating his now-teammate Schwarber, so he knows what it takes! But keep your eyes on Junior Caminero from the Rays. He finished runner-up to our own Cal Raleigh last year, and he's looking to take that final step, sitting at +325 odds. While our guy Cal Raleigh won't be defending his title, remember only four sluggers in history, like the legendary Ken Griffey Jr. with his record three titles, have won the Derby more than once. So we won't have a back-to-back champ from the Emerald City this time, but the potential for a repeat winner is still there with Harper. Willson Contreras, Munetaka Murakami, Jordan Walker, Jac Caglianone, and Ben Rice complete the field. So who's gonna seize the moment? Will Harper become a repeat winner, joining legends like Ken Griffey Jr. who holds the record with three titles? Or will someone like Caminero finally get his revenge? You won't wanna miss it! Catch all the action Monday, July 13, at 8:00 p.m. ET, exclusively on Netflix. Get ready for some absolute moonshots, Emerald City, because this Derby is set to be a classic!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.