How 2024 Format Changes Impact Home Run Derby Betting

2024 Home Run Derby Field

The field is set for the 2024 Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas!

Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia and Dodgers center fielder Teoscar Hernandez are the final two players to be named to the eight-player field. They join New York Mets' Pete Alonso, Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna, Kansas City's Bobby Witt Jr, Cleveland's Jose Ramirez, Baltimore's Gunnar Henderson and Philadelphia's Alec Bohm.

Alonso, Ramirez and Garcia have all competed in the Derby before while the remaining players will make their Derby debut.

In addition to new faces, there are a few new rules to this year's competition that bettors should be aware of before wagering on the event.

This year's Home Run Derby will feature several new rule changes aimed at improving the competition by addressing concerns about player exhaustion and reducing the potential risk of injury.

1. Format Adjustment: The first round will no longer feature head-to-head matchups. Instead, the top four home run hitters will advance to the second round. From there, a bracket will form and players will be seeded based on the number of home runs hit in the first round: the first seed will face the fourth seed and the second seed will face the third seed.
2. Time and Pitch Caps: In previous years, batters were allowed an unlimited number of pitches within the allotted time. In the first two rounds of this year's derby, batters will have three minutes to hit and a maximum of 40 pitches. Each hitter is allowed one timeout per round.
3. Bonus Round: Batters are no longer granted an extra 30 seconds as a bonus round. Instead, the bonus round is capped at three outs (any pitch that is not a home run counts as an out). Hitting a home run that travels 425 feet or more awards the batter a fourth out.
4. Final Round: In the final round, batters will have two minutes to hit and a maximum of 27 outs, with the same bonus rules as the earlier rounds.

How Changes Affect Betting Strategy

With the top four home run hitters advancing from the first round based on total home runs, it's important to focus on players who are known for consistent power-hitting rather than just explosive bursts.

The new three-minute limit or 40-pitch cap (whichever comes first) in the first two rounds will favor batters who can maintain a steady pace, so it's important to target a player that you believe has the most stamina.

Lastly, with additional outs awarded in the bonus round for home runs of 425+ feet, bettors should look at players with a history of hitting long home runs, being this will give them an added advantage.