The Major League Baseball Home Run Derby is an annual event that showcases the league’s most exciting power hitters, draws millions of viewers, and headlines a week of All-Star festivities.
However, it is trending toward an event that appeals to younger, lesser-known players rather than the league’s biggest stars. At least three of the most impactful players in baseball — the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, as well as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani — have all declined to participate in this year’s event.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 11: Elias Díaz #35 of the Colorado Rockies Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
2024 Home Run Derby Participants, Time, and How to Watch
Related: Scottie Scheffler’s net worth: How much pro golf’s #1 player makes in 2024
Instead, the derby will be a showdown between eight lesser-known sluggers squaring off at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Monday at 8:00 pm ET. The event will air on ESPN, and the participants will be:
Pete Alonso, New York MetsGunnar Henderson, Baltimore OriolesMarcell Ozuna, Atlanta BravesBobby Witt Jr., Kansas City RoyalsAdolis García, Texas RangersAlec Bohm, Philadelphia PhilliesJosé Ramírez, Cleveland GuardiansTeoscar Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers
Of all the contestants, Henderson has the most home runs so far this season with 28. Despite that, he also has the most to gain if he wins the contest. Henderson is earning just $756,200 in total salary this season and has a chance to beat that in one night with the $1 million top prize for winning the derby.
“It’s more than my yearly pay, so that would definitely help me in the savings (account) and down the road,” Henderson said of the chance to earn more by winning the derby than he will for playing this season for the Orioles. “That would be cool. But at the same time I’m doing it for the experience. If that’s what comes with it, I can’t complain about that, but just really looking forward to my first home run derby ever.”
No other contestant is earning less than $1 million in salary this season. The event’s second-place prize is worth $750,000, nearly matching Henderson’s season salary.
Related: ESPN could face major changes to its sports betting app
More sports business:
MLB players point the finger at Nike, not Fanatics, for uniform fiascoNCAA’s settlement raises a bunch of unanswered questionsCharles Barkley calls WBD execs ‘clowns’ amid NBA media rights negotiations
Who Will Win the 2024 Home Run Derby?
Henderson, the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year Award winner, signed a one-year, $756,200 deal with the Orioles before the start of this season and is unlikely to earn as much as his equivalents in the NBA or NFL for some time. Due to MLB’s unique salary rules, he is not eligible to freely negotiate with a team until he has at least three years of service time under his belt. Even then, he will face a series of “arbitration” years that prevent him from negotiating a salary in free agency.
However, he seems destined for a major payday at some point in the future as one of the sport’s most powerful sluggers. For instance, his home run derby competitor, Pete Alonso, is earning $20.5 million this season and faces a lucrative free agency period in the offseason.
Alonso has won the Home Run Derby twice, winning his first while making the league minimum as a rookie in 2019. He’s currently the odds-on favorite to take home the $1 million prize once again this year, but Henderson certainly has a chance to seize it from him.
“Orioles manager Brandon Hyde believes Henderson has a shot to win the Derby because of his raw power,” per ESPN. “Buck Britton, the brother of longtime pitcher Zack Britton and the Triple-A manager in the Orioles’ organization, will throw to Henderson. The two have practiced at Camden Yards, with Henderson’s close friend and teammate Colton Cowser serving as timekeeper.”
Home run No. 28 for Gunnar Henderson puts the @Orioles ahead!
(MLB x @lululemon) pic.twitter.com/s5NTHNLiAb
— MLB (@MLB) July 14, 2024
Henderson is the only contestant earning less than the $1 million prize in salary this season, so he could be the most eager to claim it. Only two shortstops have won the event — Cal Ripken in 1991 and Miguel Tejada in 2004. Both played for the Orioles.
Related: Veteran fund manager sees world of pain coming for stocks
