Welcome to the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby live blog. I’ll be recapping all the action from this annual All-Star week spectacle, which is set to get underway Monday, July 15 at 8 p.m. from Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas.
Listen to the Rotoworld Baseball Show for the latest player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.
Home Run Derby Rules, Betting Odds, History
Pete Alonso, Gunnar Henderson, Jose Ramirez, Teoscar Hernandez, Adolis Garcia, Alec Bohm, Bobby Witt Jr., and Marcell Ozuna are set to compete in the Home Run Derby. There are new rules this year. The top four scores from the first round will advance to the second round. In the first two rounds, the hitters will have three minutes or 40 pitches. In the final round, the hitters will have two minutes or 27 pitches. I’ll be along for the ride to recap all the dingers starting at 8 p.m.
8:28 p.m. Alec Bohm was first up and hit 21 home runs. It’s unclear how that score might hold up given the new format, but Bohm got in a nice groove in the second half of his round. With the lowest home run total during the season, Bohm had to go first and entered this competition as the underdog.
8:37 p.m. Bobby Witt Jr. managed to hit 20 home runs. A Texas native, who hits home runs harder and farther than anyone in the competition, Witt Jr. was considered one of the favorites tonight. He needed to hit a few home runs in the bonus round to even get to 20. With six competitors remaining in round one, Witt Jr. might be in danger of a round one exit.
8:47 p.m. Adolis Garcia hit 18 home runs in his round. This was a letdown for the hometown hero as he was shutout in the bonus round. Garcia appeared to be having a great round as his swing looked as smooth as ever, but putting up a goose egg in the bonus is likely to cost him as he finds himself in last place with five more hitters left.
9:57 p.m. Teoscar Hernandez hit 19 home runs in his round. He had 13 in the first three minutes and added six more in the bonus round. The bonus round is similar to the original home run derby rules where the competitor gets an out only if they swing and it’s not a home run. Competitors get three outs and can earn an additional fourth out if they hit a home run that goes at least 425 feet. Hernandez hit the longest home run of the night so far at 466 feet, but finds himself in third place with four hitters left. Two-time Pete Alonso is up next so get your popcorn ready.
9:11 p.m. Well, that was anticlimactic. Pete Alonso hits 12 home runs and is eliminated. I’m speechless. Alonso lives for the home run derby and was the favorite in this field, but never got going at the plate. Alec Bohm is now guaranteed to advance to the semifinals with three hitters left.
9:22 p.m. That’s more like it. Jose Ramirez belts 21 home runs and guarantees that he’ll advance to the semifinals with Alec Bohm. Bobby Witt Jr. and Teoscar Hernandez are on the bubble and Adolis Garcia has been eliminated.
9:32 p.m. Marcell Ozuna hit 16 home runs in his round. Not enough to advance to the semifinals. Witt Jr. is now guaranteed to advance with Teoscar Hernandez on the bubble. Gunnar Henderson is up next with his Scooby Doo bat as the first round comes to a close.
9:41 p.m. Gunnar Henderson was one of the favorites for this competition, but he hit just 11 home runs in the first round and was eliminated. The Scooby Doo bat didn’t help at all. Teoscar Hernandez advances to the semifinals along with Alec Bohm, Jose Ramirez and Bobby Witt Jr.
9:54 p.m. Bobby Witt Jr. hit 17 home runs in his semifinal round. He had a good round in the timed portion, but was shutout in the bonus round. Things just got interesting as Witt Jr. is going head-to-head with Jose Ramirez in this round.