Henderson commits to HR Derby as MLB tweaks format

Major League Baseball announced changes to the Home Run Derby that will take effect during this year's event on July 15.

The biggest change is to reintroduce "outs" and limit participants to a pitch count.

In the first round and semi-finals, contestants have 3 minutes to hit as many homers as possible on a maximum of 40 pitches. In the finals, the time limit will be reduced to two minutes with each hitter getting up to 27 pitches to work with. In every round, each slugger will be given one timeout.

Players will also get three bonus outs per round and earn an additional out if they hit a homer that travels at least 425 feet during the bonus period. Any swing not resulting in a homer will count as an out.

This year's event will also feature a new format for the first round, with the eight contestants all competing against each other and the four players with the most homers advancing to the semis. The slugger who hits the most dingers will face the player who hit the fourth-most in the next round while the two-seed and three-seed will also face off for a shot at the finals.

The event also ditched its extra-time tiebreak format in the first round and the winner of a draw will be decided by the longest homer.

The league originally eliminated "outs" in 2015, which was met with acclaim from viewers, but hitters commented on its frantic pace over the past decade.

Eight players will compete in the league's marquee All-Star event, which will be held in Texas, one day before the Midsummer Classic. Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson became the first to commit to the event on Sunday.

He made the announcement while mic'd up during the Orioles game against the Texas Rangers on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball:

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won last year.