Everything to know about the 2021 Home Run Derby

Major League Baseball has reached its final weekend of play before the midseason All-Star break arrives. Regular season pauses after Sunday’s schedule and will not resume until Thursday evening. In between, we get the Futures Game and Celebrity Softball Game on Sunday, the Home Run Derby on Monday, and the All-Star Game on Tuesday.

Each event offers something interesting, but the Home Run Derby might have the most upside for pure excitement. People love the long ball, and while historically the Derby can be hit or miss overall, more often than not there will be at least one big performance that drops our jaws.

Here’s a rundown of everything we know heading into Monday’s Home Run Derby.

How to watch

Date: Monday, July 12
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV channel: ESPN
Live stream: WatchESPN, ESPN App

Location

The All-Star festivities are taking place at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. This is notable because of the thin air. Coors Field has dealt with inflated run totals, which resulted in the implementation of a humidor of sorts to prevent baseballs from drying out. The stadium remains a high scoring field, but the “humidor” has slowed things down.

Not for the Home Run Derby, though! MLB announced the baseballs used for the Derby will not be stored in the humidor, which hopefully results in more long balls for the event.

Participants

Shohei Ohtani, DH/SP, Los Angeles Angels
Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets (defending 2019 champ, only participant to previously take part in an MLB Home Run Derby)
Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies
Joey Gallo, OF, Texas Rangers
Trey Mancini, 1B, Baltimore Orioles
Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics
Salvador Perez, C, Kansas City Royals
Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

Bracket

(1) Shohei Ohtani vs. (8) Juan Soto
(4) Salvador Perez vs. (5) Pete Alonso

(2) Joey Gallo vs. (7) Trevor Story
(3) Matt Olson vs. (6) Trey Mancini

Rules

Timing

• The regulation period of rounds 1 & 2 will be 3:00 minutes per batter.
• The regulation period of the final round will be 2:00 minutes per batter
• The timer starts with release of the first pitch, and a round ends when the timer strikes zero. A home run shall count provided the pitch was released before the timer strikes zero.
• Each batter is allowed to call one 45-second time out in the regulation period of each round (including in the final round). No time outs are permitted in the bonus period.

Bonus Time

• All batters will be awarded 30 seconds of bonus time following the regulation period of each round.
• A batter will be awarded an additional 30 seconds of bonus time if he hits at least one home run that equals or exceeds 475 feet in the regulation period of that round. If this occurs, the bonus time for the round will be 60 seconds.
• The bonus period – whether it is 30 seconds or 60 seconds – is a single time segment, with no time outs.
• After the regulation period, a batter is allowed a break of up to one minute before his bonus period begins.
• During the bonus period, a special T-Mobile magenta ball will be used.

Scoring/Advancement

• Batter with most home runs hit in each matchup will advance to next round.
• Ties in any round will be broken by a 60-second swing-off with no stoppage of time or additional time added; if a tie remains after the swing-off, batters will engage in successive three-swing swing-offs until there is a winner.
• If the second batter hits more than the first batter in any matchup, he will be declared winner and not attempt to hit additional home runs. If this occurs during the regulation period, the batter will not need the bonus period.

Past winners

Last five years

2019: Pete Alonso, New York Mets (Progressive Field)
2018: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals (Nationals Park)
2017: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (Marlins Park)
2016: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (Petco Park)
2015: Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds (Great American Ball Park)

Last time at Coors Field

1998: Ken Griffey Jr. finished with 19 total home runs and beat Jim Thome 3-2 in the finals. Griffey led the pack with 8 in the first round and tied Thome with 8 in the second round.