Major League Baseball announced a new format for the 2015 Home Run Derby. The new format includes a bracket with seeding based on the home run totals before 7 July and timed rounds instead of outs.
First of all, there are eight players in a single-elimination head-to-head bracket, which is a departure from the AL vs. NL team format. Meaning, the loser of each bracket is eliminated immediately. Players will be seeded based on the regular season home runs until July 7. Ties are broken by home runs hit since July 7, with the winner getting the higher seeding; the higher seed hits last.
Each batter gets five minutes per round, with the timer starting when the first pitch is thrown. Home runs hit during the final minute will stop the timer. The timer will not start again until a non-home run, swings and misses have been hit.
Moreover, batters can attain bonus time. They can get one additional minute for hitting two home runs that equal or exceed 420 feet (as measured by MLB Advanced Media's Statcast). A home run greater than or equal to 475 feet will result in 30 bonus seconds. The two bonuses are not mutually exclusive.
Additionally, if two batters are tied at the end of a round, they'll go into a 90-second swing-off. In a swing-off, the timer cannot stop for any reason and no bonus time can be claimed. Should a tie remain at the end of a swing-off, they'll move into successive three-swing swing-offs until a winner is decided.
Finally, each batter can use one 45-second time-out per round to collect his thoughts, take a breath, etc.
This year's home run derby will take place on July 13 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinatti.
First of all, there are eight players in a single-elimination head-to-head bracket, which is a departure from the AL vs. NL team format. Meaning, the loser of each bracket is eliminated immediately. Players will be seeded based on the regular season home runs until July 7. Ties are broken by home runs hit since July 7, with the winner getting the higher seeding; the higher seed hits last.
Each batter gets five minutes per round, with the timer starting when the first pitch is thrown. Home runs hit during the final minute will stop the timer. The timer will not start again until a non-home run, swings and misses have been hit.
Moreover, batters can attain bonus time. They can get one additional minute for hitting two home runs that equal or exceed 420 feet (as measured by MLB Advanced Media's Statcast). A home run greater than or equal to 475 feet will result in 30 bonus seconds. The two bonuses are not mutually exclusive.
Additionally, if two batters are tied at the end of a round, they'll go into a 90-second swing-off. In a swing-off, the timer cannot stop for any reason and no bonus time can be claimed. Should a tie remain at the end of a swing-off, they'll move into successive three-swing swing-offs until a winner is decided.
Finally, each batter can use one 45-second time-out per round to collect his thoughts, take a breath, etc.
This year's home run derby will take place on July 13 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinatti.