The Home Run Derby is So Back: Having Fun Visualizing the Homers and Amazing Finish

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 08:23:00 -0700

As a long-term lover of the Home Run Derby (by far a better event than the All Star Game), I had SUCH A BLAST watching this year’s version, which scrapped the batting clock and introduced a swing cap.

While the change towards timed rounds in 2015 was fun for a few years, over time it became unwatchable as players responded to the incentives in play by swinging as fast (and as much) as possible - taking away all of the drama and majesty of the home runs themselves.

Tidyverse on Conor McLaughlin

The Home Run Derby is So Back: Having Fun Visualizing the Homers and Amazing Finish