Morning Briefing: New Home Run Derby Format Announced
Good morning, Mets fans! Try not to roll your eyes if anyone wishes you a Happy Bobby Bonilla Day.
Major League Baseball is tweaking the Home Run Derby rules. Eight hitters will start, with four advancing to the second round and ties will be broken by the longest home run. The semifinals will be bracket style with the top finisher of the first round facing the player with the fourth best first round score. The players who finish second and third in Round 1 will also square off for a spot in the finals.
The first two rounds will be 3 minutes or 40 pitches (whichever comes first) and one timeout. Players will then get three “bonus” outs, where they keep swinging until they make three more outs. (All non-home runs are outs.) A 425-foot homer or longer during bonus time will earn a player a fourth bonus out. The finals will use the same rules except they will be two minutes or 27 pitches.
Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles was the first to announce that he will be a contestant.
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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On This Date in Mets History
1993: Dwight Gooden homered off Charlie Hough, but also coughed up five home runs in a 7-5 loss to the Florida Marlins. Bobby Bonilla went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Bonilla, 61, will collect $1,193,248.20 today and every July 1 until 2035 when this can hopefully be put behind us.
Birthdays: Michael Wacha (33), Craig Anderson (86)
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