The 2026 MLB Home Run Derby, held on July 13 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, featured a new format that significantly increased excitement. The event used a bracket-style tournament with eight participants, each competing in three-minute timed rounds, with a 30-second bonus for hitting two home runs of 440 feet or more.
According to MLB.com, the new rules led to a record-breaking total of 308 home runs, surpassing the previous record of 259 set in 2019. Pete Alonso of the New York Mets won his third Derby title, defeating Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays in the final round, 23-22. Alonso hit a total of 72 home runs across all rounds, the second-highest total in Derby history.
The format change aimed to increase pace and drama, with head-to-head matchups and a shot clock. Fans and players praised the structure, which reduced downtime and emphasized power hitting. The event drew an average of 5.2 million viewers on ESPN, up 12% from 2025.
