Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in the swing of after the 2025 MLB All-Star Game ended in a tie at Truist Park.
For the first time since 1994, ESPN will not be the television host for the MLB Home Run Derby, leaving many fans to wonder how they can watch the event.
But have no fear, the 2026 Home Run Derby will still be broadcast live, with Netflix taking over the event for the first time in the company’s history, and doing so with a fascinating cast of hosts, analysts, and more.
We’ve got you covered on not only how to watch the derby, but also all the details on the competitors, the odds, and the unique broadcast crew that Netflix is bringing to the table.
While the Home Run Derby itself begins at 8 p.m. ET, Netflix begins its broadcast with a pre-show starting at 7 p.m. that features hosts Lauren Shehadi, Matt Vasgersian, and Elle Duncan.
In addition to the three hosts, they’ll have analysis from some of the greatest hitters of all time, including Hall of Famers and All-Stars Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Hunter Pence, Anthony Rizzo, and CC Sabathia.
The broadcast will also include segments involving NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who is excited to make his first foray into the sport.
Michael Irvin And Elle Duncan Bring New Flavor To Netflix Home Run Derby Coverage
“In my retirement from the NFL, I wanted to get the chance to jump into as many things as I can get into,” Irvin told BroBible when asked about his involvement. “The Home Run Derby is one of the biggest events in sports throughout the year. .
“Out of all the All-Star Games, the Home Run Derby owns the highest level. Now, the (NBA) Dunk Contest used to be up here when the best players were in it. But the Home Run Derby has that knocked down.”
Meanwhile, Duncan, who announced she was making the leap from ESPN to Netflix in late 2025, is thrilled to get her chance to leave a mark on one of sports’ great events.
“Netflix sold me on the ability to do major events, do events that I had never done before, that I would never do had I stayed at ESPN, and to really be a part of building something from scratch,” she said of taking the leap and joining Netflix’s budding live sports department.
Specifically, Duncan is excited to be the host for an event that she’s been watching since she was a kid.
“This is so surreal for me, because I grew up a baseball girlie, and I loved the derby. Now I get to watch the Home Run Derby with Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds,” she said. “I’m gonna get to sit on the field with them and hear them talk about the derby and their own experiences. I think that’s so unique and exciting.”
Duncan said she couldn’t reveal any specific spoilers, but strongly suggested viewers turn in early for player intros.
“I was standing up and jumping around,” she said of attending rehearsals. “The intros are so lit. So if the guys go there and mash, it’s gonna be amazing.”
2026 MLB Home Run Derby Viewing Guide
Time: 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. pre-show)
Location: Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
How To Watch: Netflix
Hosts and Analysts: Elle Duncan, Lauren Shehadi, Matt Vasgersian, Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, CC Sabathia, Anthony Rizzo, and Hunter Pence.
Format: After several years of using a timed format, the MLB is switching things up and using a swing-based format in 2026.
In the opening round, all eight batters will receive 20 swings to accumulate the most home runs. If they homer on the final swing of the round, they continue to swing until they hit a ball that is not a home run.
Any ties will be broken by the distance of the player’s longest home run.
The top four hitters will advance to the semifinals, which will be seeded using the totals from the opening round. The winners of those matchups will advance to the finals.
In both the semis and finals, hitters will go head-to-head with 15 swings each under the same rules as the opening round. Ties in the semifinals and finals will be determined by a three-swing swing-off.
2026 Home Run Derby Participants & Odds
Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies) – +310 – Third Home Run Derby (runner-up in 2018)
Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays) – +425 – Second Home Run Derby (runner-up in 2025)
Munetaka Murakami (Chicago White Sox) – +500 – First Home Run Derby (Would be fourth rookie to win)
Jac Caglianone (Kansas City Royals) – +650 – First Home Run Derby
Jordan Walker (St. Louis Cardinals) – +750 – First Home Run Derby
Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) – +850 – Second Home Run Derby (Won in 2018)
Ben Rice (New York Yankees) – +850 – First Home Run Derby
Willson Contreras (Boston Red Sox) – +1300 – First Home Run Derby