Pete Alonso goes for record-tying third Home Run Derby title

The 38th Home Run Derby will see Pete Alonso compete for a record-tying third title Monday, the night before the 2024 MLB All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

The New York Mets veteran first baseman is the +320 favorite to claim the popular MLB hitting competition. Should Alonso win, he would match Ken Griffey's record number of Home Run Derby titles. 

The 29-year-old will make his fifth straight Derby appearance, winning his first two titles back to back in 2019 and 2021 (the event was canceled in 2020). In 2022, he reached the semifinal round and was knocked out by eventual runner-up Julio Rodriguez, 31-23. Juan Soto beat Rodriguez in the final, 19-18. The following year, Alonso endured his earliest exit, falling in the quarterfinals to Rodriguez, 41-21.

New Home Run Derby format for 2024

For the 2024 edition of the Home Run Derby, Alonso must adjust to a new format. It's the first major overhaul to the competition since 2015, when MLB got rid of the outs system and instead made the competition a timed one.

This year, the bracket-style system of the Home Run Derby will not begin until the semifinal round. 

In the past, eight players were placed in a bracket and advanced based on head-to-head competition. But last year, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman hit 27 home runs in the first round but failed to reach the semifinals because his opponent, Luis Robert Jr., tallied 28. Rutschman finished with the third-most home runs in the round.

To eliminate such a possibility again, all eight players will compete in the same pool in the first round, and the top four will advance to the semifinals. If there is a tie in the first round, the player with the longest home run of the round will move forward.

Another change to the 2024 Home Run Derby is the number of pitches for the first round and the semifinals. 

Players will get a maximum of 40 pitches during their three-minute window in each of those rounds. The final round will last two minutes long or 27 pitches, whichever comes first. There is an untimed bonus period with unlimited extra pitches until three outs are reached. An additional out is earned by hitting a home run of at least 425 feet.

Adolis Garcia, Jose Ramirez among experienced 2024 Home Run Derby participants

While Alonso navigates a few new rules for the 2024 Home Run Derby, he may have the benefit of facing a slew of players lacking experience in the All-Star contest. 

The only other participants who have competed in a past Home Run Derby are Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez and Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia, the only non-All-Star member of the 2024 roster in the Derby. Alonso is the sole player with multiple Home Run Derby appearances among this year's eight-player field.

Other participants include Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. – both American League MVP candidates – NL MVP contender Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, and first-time All-Star Alec Bohm of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Henderson is third in MLB in homers this season, with 28, followed next by Ozuna (26). Ramirez has hit 23 long balls, while Hernandez and Alonso are tied with 19 apiece. 

Alonso is on pace to record a career low in home runs this season, but the Home Run Derby may mark a turning of the tides. For his career, his batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage have been higher in the second half of the season.

MLB home run leader Aaron Judge opted not to participate in the Home Run Derby and has made just one appearance in 2017, when he became the first rookie to win the event outright.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani ranks second in MLB with 29 home runs but was not cleared by his team to compete while he undergoes rehab from elbow surgery.

How to watch the 2024 Home Run Derby

ESPN will broadcast the 2024 Home Run Derby live from Globe Life Field beginning at 8 p.m. ET. You can also stream the event on DirecTV Stream, Fubo, or ESPN+.

The winner will receive $1 million of a $2.5 million prize pool.

The MLB All-Star Game between the National League and American League will air Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.