Big changes are coming to the Home Run Derby tonight, and we had to pause our regular Quick Pitch schedule to talk about it. From a revamped format to a lethal field of sluggers, tonight is going to be electric. Here is your quick guide to the new rules, what to watch for, and our official household picks for tonight’s champion.

⏱️Ditch the Clock: Breaking Down the Revamped Derby Rules

Leesl: Here we are in mid-July, which means it’s finally time for the Midsummer Classic! While the All-Star Game has rich roots—dating all the way back to 1933 at Chicago’s Comiskey Park—this year we are heading to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for the 96th historic matchup. But before the main event, we get the real fan-favorite spectacle: the Home Run Derby. With 40 slugfests in the history books, Philly’s cozy dimensions are a certified home run hitter’s paradise. We are bound to see an absolute firework show tonight!

Andy: For 2026, MLB completely ripped up the script and changed the rules. Say goodbye to the chaotic, race-against-the-clock timed at-bats. This year, it’s all about pitch selection and patience: hitters are strictly limited to 20 swings in Round 1, and 15 swings in Rounds 2 and 3. The only twist? A round can’t end on a homer—if you launch one on your final swing, you keep swinging until you miss. Because they can’t just blindly hack away anymore, I’m calling it now: nobody is touching Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s single-derby record of 91 homers from 2019.

Leesl: You actually nailed the math on that one, Andy. To even come close to 91 under these rules, someone would have to hit a homer on their 20th swing and then go on a consecutive home run streak longer than Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak! It’s just not happening.

🛋️ Couples Counseling: Why We Can’t Agree on Tonight’s Derby Winner

Our picking strategies couldn’t be more different tonight. Do you ride the wave of an electric hometown crowd, or do you bet on a hungry contender out for blood and redemption?

Leesl: When you’re playing in the City of Brotherly Love, you don’t just lean into the home-field magic—you ride it like a tidal wave. The Phillies have two absolute monsters in this field with Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. While Andy knows my heart wants to take Harper as the ultimate sentimental favorite, my brain is locked on the current home run leader, Schwarber. He’s been the most dominant pure power hitter of the last five years. Unleashing his legendary “Schwarbombs” in front of those insanely loud Philly fans is going to push him straight to that million-dollar grand prize.

Andy: This wasn’t an easy decision, as I desperately wanted to pick Munetaka Murakami to win it for my White Sox. But coming straight off the inactive list with an injury feels like a recipe for a first-round exit. Instead, I’m putting my money on Junior Caminero. He was the surprise runner-up last year, and he’s returning with a massive chip on his shoulder. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. openly telling him that his second Derby is strictly for winning, plus a new, patient 20-swing format that perfectly suits his raw bat speed, Caminero is walking away with the crown and the cash.

Leesl: Going with a Tampa bat in the middle of South Philly, Andy? Bold move—blink twice if you need a safe house. While Caminero is busy playing the patient revenge angle, Kyle Schwarber is going to give the local bleacher creatures exactly what they want: absolute bedlam at the Bank!!

🍿 Whose Side Are You On?

So, who takes the crown tonight? Does Leesl get to celebrate a massive hometown “Schwarbomb” party, or will Andy look like an absolute genius for backing the Caminero revenge tour? Grab your popcorn, turn on Netflix, and drop a comment below to let us know exactly who you’re backing! ⚾👇