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When is MLB Home Run Derby in 2015? |  |
The Home Run Derby in 2015 is scheduled for Monday, July 13th and will be hosted at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinati, Ohio; home of the Cincinati Reds.
In 2014, Yoenis Cespedes of the Oakland Athletics defended his 2013 Home Run Derby title becoming only the second player to win the derby in back-to-back years - the first was Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998 and 1999.
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What is MLB Home Run Derby? | |
The Home Run Derby is an annual event as part of baseball's All-Star Weekend and is hosted the day before MLB's All-Star Game. The contest features Major League Baseball's best home run hitters from both the National League and American League to determine who can hit the most home runs when the pressure is on. Originally, the derby was not televised as it was a two-inning event with 5-outs per inning. The competition was first shown live on TV in 1991 and since then has grown to become one of the most popular annual sporting events on the ESPN networks.
Currently, four players from both the AMerican League and National League compete in the Home Run Derby. One player is deemed the captain who "selects" the remaining three hitters. This allows the captains to elect the best power hitters in the league rather than have the contestants be chosen by the fans based on popularity.
Some of the most impressive displays of power as part of the Home Run Derby include:
- 2005: Bobby Abreu hit a record total of 41-homers
- 2008: Josh Hamilton hit a record 28 home runs in the first inning
- 2013: Yoenis Cespedes was the first player to win the derby without being selected to the actual All-Star Game
