MLB Home Run Derby format, explained: What to know about new rules, changes in 2026 - Yahoo Sports Canada
The MLB Home Run Derby is set to feature a revised format in 2026, returning to a swing-based competition. This change marks a departure from the timer-based system that has been in place since 2015. The event will be held in Philadelphia, coinciding with the United States’ 250th birthday celebrations. Additionally, Netflix will provide coverage of the competition.
The new rules, announced in June, will see players given a specific number of swings per round, rather than a time limit to hit as many home runs as possible. Every swing taken will count towards a player’s allotment, regardless of whether it results in a home run. An interesting new element allows players who hit a home run on their final swing attempt to continue swinging until they fail to hit another home run.
Revised Competition Structure
The overall bracket structure for the Home Run Derby will largely remain consistent with previous years. Eight hitters will compete in Round 1, with the top four based on home run totals advancing to the semifinals. These four will be seeded according to their Round 1 performance, leading to two head-to-head matchups to determine the finalists. The two remaining hitters will then face off for the trophy.
While the bracket is established for the later rounds, the initial stage will see four hitters eliminated before the bracket is fully implemented in the second round. Tiebreakers will vary depending on the round. In Round 1, the furthest home run distance will decide any ties between competitors vying to reach Round 2. For Rounds 2 and 3, ties will be resolved through a three-swing swing-off, where each batter gets three attempts to hit a home run.
The number of swings allocated to hitters will differ across the rounds. In Round 1, participants will receive 20 swings. For both Round 2 and Round 3, hitters will be given 15 swings. All swing attempts contribute to the total allotment for each round.
Participants Announced for the Derby
The field for the Home Run Derby in Philadelphia has been announced, featuring eight players. Among them are Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber and his teammate Bryce Harper, who will compete in front of their home crowd at Citizens Bank Park. Schwarber, a four-time All-Star, has been a prominent power hitter, trailing only Aaron Judge in home runs since 2022.
This will be Schwarber’s third appearance in the event. He previously reached the finals in 2018, where he lost to Harper, and also participated in the 2022 Derby, being eliminated in the first round. Last year, Schwarber secured a win for the National League in the All-Star Game through a swing-off tiebreaker, hitting three home runs on three swings.
Other participants include Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami, who was also named an All-Star injury replacement. Murakami joins Shohei Ohtani as the only Japanese-born players to take part in the derby. The roster is completed by Willson Contreras of Boston, Jac Caglianone of Kansas City, Junior Caminero of Tampa Bay, Jordan Walker of St. Louis, and Ben Rice of the New York Yankees.
The event is a highlight of MLB’s All-Star Weekend, and the changes aim to refresh the competition for fans. The return to a swing-based format is a notable adjustment for the 2026 Home Run Derby.
Source: ca.sports.yahoo.com
