2023 Home Run Derby: Location, Tickets, Competitors, History

Posted on by Matt Musico
2023 home run derby
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Last Updated on July 9, 2023 by Matt Musico

We love home runs here at MLB Daily Dingers. That’s pretty obvious. Is it also surprising there’s one particular event during All-Star week that catches our eye the most? Probably not. We’re already looking forward to the 2023 Home Run Derby.

To properly channel that excitement, we’re collecting information about the event as it becomes available right here.

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Where is the 2023 Home Run Derby?

The Seattle Mariners will play host for the 2023 All-Star Game and All-Star Week activities/events. Formerly known as Safeco Field when it first opened, the Mariners’ home has been called T-Mobile Park since 2019. This is the third time Seattle has been tabbed as host, but the first time since 2001.

The Home Run Derby is scheduled for July 10th, 2023. The time is currently to be determined, but it’s typically at 8 pm EST, which would mean 5 pm PST for those actually heading to the ballpark.

2023 Home Run Derby Tickets

The Home Run Derby usually airs on ESPN, so it should be easy to watch if you’re not at the ballpark. But if you’re looking for tickets to this cool event, make sure you save up your pennies. Seats are definitely not cheap, but at the same time, there are opportunities to buy without having to be a millionaire to make it happen.

Interested in seeing what tickets are available so you can see the Home Run Derby in person? Then check out what’s available with our friends at Vivid Seats. They’re not cheap, though. If you’re a new customer to Vivid, use the promo code NEWVIVID20 to get $20 off a $200+ ticket.

Who Will Be Participating in the Home Run Derby?

This is a question we’ll continue getting answers to over the coming days leading up to the event. Typically, Major League Baseball likes to extend invites to the league leaders in home runs (or, guys they know can put on a good show).

Julio Rodriguez was the first player to officially announce that he’ll be participating.

After putting on an unbelievable show in the 2019 Home Run Derby, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is back for more in 2023:

Upon getting named an NL starter in the outfield, Mookie Betts is throwing his hat into the ring:

Randy Arozarena will bring his infinite levels of swag to the competition:

Pete Alonso was mic’d up during ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast between the Mets and Giants on July 2nd. While chatting with the booth, the newly named All-Star (and two-time HR Derby champ) announced he’ll once again be participating:

Fresh off earning his first All-Star nod, Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is joining the Derby field:

 

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A post shared by Adley Rutschman (@adleyrutschman)

Count Luis Robert Jr. as another first-time All-Star who will also be participating in the Derby.

 

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A post shared by Luis Robert (@luisrobertm56)

Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia rounds out the field as the final participant:

Now that the Home Run Derby field is full, we also have a bracket for the first-round matchups:

The American League will be looking for its first Home Run Derby win since 2017 when Aaron Judge won the event. The National League has won each of the last four (Bryce Harper in ’18, Pete Alonso in ’19 and ’21, and Juan Soto in ’22). And if we go back to Todd Frazier‘s 2015 victory, an NL player has won six of the last seven times.

We’ll be keeping track of each player’s progress in the derby as it happens in Seattle. Follow along for any and all of the hitters you’re most interested in with one of the below trackers:

Here’s the Current Format

While there could be some small changes/tweaks to the overall format, we can assume things will mostly stay the same as they have in recent years. Mostly because the event is jam-packed with action and moves along at a mostly brisk pace. Here’s what the format has been:

Eight participants are put into a bracket for a head-to-head matchup. Seeding is determined by how many first-half homers they hit. Hitters receive three-minute timed at-bats in the first two rounds (two-minute at-bats in the finals).

Each slugger is allowed to use one 45-second timeout. If they slug at least two homers 440-plus feet, they earn 30 seconds of bonus time in addition to the 30 seconds everyone gets at the end of each round.

Two tiebreakers are in place. The first is a one-minute at-bat to hit as many homers as possible. If both players are still tied, they have a Swing-Off, where they get three swings each to see if the tie can be broken.

A Full Rundown of Home Run Derby History

Before the 2023 Home Run Derby gets underway, it’s important to revisit history by taking a stroll down memory lane. That’s where we come in to help out.

If you’re looking for a complete list of winners, full standings, old formats, and some videos, head right here. We’ve also spent time discussing the best single-round performances, the best single-derby performances, and the all-time Derby home run leaderboard.

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