The 20 Swings That Will Define Cal Raleigh's Home Run Derby Title Defense!

Alright, M's fans, buckle up because Major League Baseball just threw a curveball bigger than anything we've seen at T-Mobile Park! Get ready, because the Home Run Derby clock, that thing that's been stressing out our favorite sluggers for years, is officially GONE. Poof! Vanished! And for our guy, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, the defending champion from 2025, this changes *everything* as he gears up to defend his title in Philadelphia on July 13.

No More Race Against Time: Welcome Back the Swings!

Remember that whole clock thing? Yeah, turns out MLB is ditching it. Since 2015, competitors have been racing against a timer, originally five minutes, then reduced to four in 2016 because of some wild weather, and it just stuck. It added urgency, sure, but let's be real, a sport that doesn't even use a clock to determine a winner was always a bit weird having one for its biggest power display, right? Now, it's all about pure swings, baby! For the first round of this eight-person slugfest, guys are gonna get 20 swings to launch as many bombs as they can. Then, for the semifinals and finals, it drops to 15 swings. Oh, and here's a sweet twist: if you hit a dinger on your last swing, you keep going until you don't. That means more dingers, more fireworks, and more chances for Big Dumper to show off!

How Our C

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hamp Will Defend His Crown in Philly So, how's this going to play out in Philly on July 13? After that first round of 20-swing madness, the field gets cut in half to four competitors. Then, it's straight-up bracket style, just like we love it! The top home-run hitter from the first round faces off against the fourth-highest hitter. The second and third finishers? They'll duke it out. Winners move on, and boom, we've got our final two for a head-to-head, 15-swing showdown for the championship. It's gonna be epic! And get this, the whole show is going to be broadcast on Netflix for the first time ever, after a long run on ESPN. Can you imagine seeing Cal Raleigh smash homers on the big streaming stage? Legendary! Remember, the Cincinnati Reds' Dave Parker won the first Derby way back in 1985, but our guy, Cal Raleigh, is the champ to beat! This is a massive shift for an event that's become a mid-summer classic, and it absolutely sets the stage for Cal Raleigh to make history. Will he be able to adjust his rhythm and become the first repeat champion in this new, swing-focused format? You know the entire Emerald City will be watching, cheering on our Home Run Derby King! It's going to be a nail-biter, a power-fest, and hopefully, a celebration for Seattle. Let's hope the M's can find their rhythm on the field too, after today's 5-3 loss to the Orioles. We'll be counting down the days until July 13. Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.