ESPN Steps to the Plate With MLB Home Run Derby Coverage

As Major League Baseball enters its annual All-Star Game break, ESPN will step to the plate on Monday to provide live coverage of the 2023 Home Run Derby.

ESPN will begin its Home Run Derby coverage on Monday night (July 10) with its Baseball Tonight pregame show before airing the live competition from Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.

ESPN2, will offer a stats-heavy alternative feed including analytics-focused commentary driven by on-screen graphics, data and information provided by MLB StatCast. Also, the home run coverage and ball flight will be displayed via 3D animation during the telecast, according to the network.

Last year’s Home Run Derby, won by then-Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto, drew 6.9 million viewers across ESPN and ESPN2, down 3% from the previous year, according to Nielsen.

This year’s participants include Julio Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners), Vladimir Guerrero (Toronto Blue Jays), Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers), Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rays), Pete Alonso (New York Mets), Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles), Luis Robert (Chicago White Sox) and Adolis Garcia (Texas Rangers).

ESPN’s Home Run Derby coverage will be hosted by Karl Ravech and Eduardo Perez, with analysts Buster Olney and Alden Gonzalez providing interviews and commentary. Ravech, during a recent press call for the event, said the fast pace of the at-bats during the Home Run Derby makes announcing the event difficult but contributes to its appeal for viewers.

“It resonates not only with the people in the stands and watching, but also with the competitors,” he said. “There is something about a home run and a home run champion that resonates with people.”

Tuesday’s All-Star Game will air on Fox.