The Home Run Derby is one of my favorite baseball-related events of the year. Why wouldn’t it be when I run a website dedicated to honoring MLB’s home run history, right? This page will be your go-to guide when it comes to finding content that highlights Home Run Derby performances.
If you’re looking for:
- A list of Home Run Derby winners and complete standings
- The best single-round Home Run Derby performances ever
- Most home runs in a single Home Run Derby
- Most all-time home runs in Home Run Derby history
Then you’re in the right place. As I write more Derby content, it will be linked here. For now, get some frequently asked questions about the Home Run Derby answered below.
Where is the 2027 Home Run Derby, and what time does it start?
MLB’s 2027 Home Run Derby is taking place in Chicago, Illinois, at Wrigley Field — home of the Chicago Cubs. It will take place on July 12, 2027, with festivities typically kicking off at 8 p.m. ET. For as long as I can remember, ESPN has been carrying the Derby, but Netflix owns the rights to the event now. They
Who is participating in the Home Run Derby in 2027?
We don’t know the answer to this yet, but it will start to crystallize as spring turns into summer. Once we get some official announcements on who will be joining the event, we’ll update it here.
What was the format for the Home Run Derby?
Eight hitters will make up the entire Home Run Derby field. It will take three rounds to determine a champion.
All eight sluggers will compete against one another in the first round, with the top four home run totals moving on to the semifinals. That’s where players start facing off head-to-head. The player with the most homers in Round 1 will face the one with the fewest, with the middle two facing off against one another.
The rounds have been timed (three minutes long) with pitch limits involved since 2015. But according to The Athletic’s Evan Drellich, MLB is changing the format in 2026. Instead of how it’s been over the past decade, the Derby will go back to a “swings” format:
News: the Home Run Derby is ditching the clock. MLB is using a "swings" system in this year's derby. Derby has had a clock since 2015.
1st round: 20 swings
2nd and 3rd: 15 hacks.On your last pitch each round, swing til you don't go deep.
(Deleted original post here which…
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) June 18, 2026
Other important distinctions here are that there is no timer and no “outs” — every swing a player takes will count toward their allotment for that specific round. There is also no bonus round. If there are any ties in the first round, it will be broken by home run distance. In the semis and finals, there will be three-swing swing-offs.
Has anyone won the Home Run Derby 3 times?
Ken Griffey Jr. is the only player in MLB history with three Home Run Derby titles. He won the event in 1994, 1998, and 1999.
How many players have won the Home Run Derby more than once?
Including Griffey, four players have won the Derby more than once. Other multi-time winners include Alonso (2019 and 2021), Yoenis Cespedes (2013 and 2014), and Prince Fielder (2009 and 2012). Alonso is participating in the 2024 event and will try to tie Griffey’s record.
You can see the full list of Home Run Derby winners in the event’s history here.
Who has hit the most home runs in a single HR Derby?
A player has surpassed 70 homers in a single Home Run Derby five times. It’s been accomplished by four different players. The five most powerful Home Run Derby performances include the following:
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 2019: 91 home runs
- Randy Arozarena, 2023: 82 home runs
- Julio Rodriguez, 2022: 81 home runs
- Pete Alonso, 2021: 74 home runs
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 2023: 72 home runs
Coincidentally enough, the only two times these performances ended in a title are the two lowest ones (Alonso in ’21 and Guerrero in ’23). Check out the top single-Derby performances here.
Which player has slugged the most home runs in HR Derby history?
Pete Alonso is the all-time HR Derby home run king. Ahead of the 2024 event, Polar Bear has slugged 195 home runs across four appearances.
See the full list of the top home run hitters in Home Run Derby history here.
What is the best single-round performance ever in a Home Run Derby?
The Home Run Derby has produced some insane performances in recent years. Julio Rodriguez holds the Derby record for the best single-round performance ever. He slugged 41 homers during the first round of the 2023 event. Guerrero Jr. is the only other hitter to produce a 40-homer round in Derby history. He did that during an epic second-round matchup with Joc Pederson in 2019.
You can read about (and watch) the best single-round performances here.
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