Picture: MLB: Home Run Derby – Netflix / MLB
Major League Baseball fans are in for a historic treat as Netflix steps up to the plate with its second-ever live MLB event. Streaming live from Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, the 2026 MLB: Home Run Derby promises to shake up baseball tradition. With an all-new format that completely eliminates the traditional pitch clock and introduces a high-stakes swing limit, baseball’s elite sluggers will rely on pure strategy and raw power.
Here is everything you need to know about tonight’s broadcast, including start times, regional availability, and the star-studded lineup.
What time does MLB: Home Run Derby go live on Netflix?
MLB: Home Run Derby takes place on the evening of July 13, 2026, and is being hosted at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Picture: Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies
The pre-show for the event will start at 7 PM EST / 4 PM PST, and then the Home Run Derby itself will begin at 8 PM EST / 5 PM PST
MLB: Home Run Derby
Is the MLB: Home Run Derby free to watch on Netflix?
Yes! However, your availability to watch the MLB: Home Run Derby is region-dependent despite Netflix advertising it as a global event.
We can confirm that the MLB: Home Run Derby will not be available to stream on Netflix in the United Kingdom, which will instead be available on TNT Sports 1 from 01:00 AM.
To check if the MLB: Home Run Derby is on Netflix, please see the button linked above, which will take you directly to the streaming service.
What audio options will be available for MLB: Home Run Derby on Netflix?
So far, Netflix has only confirmed the English audio option for MLB: Home Run Derby, which will feature the following voices guiding you through all the action:
Play-by-Play & Hosting:
- Matt Vasgersian.
- Elle Duncan.
- Lauren Shehadi.
Picture (L to R): Matt Vasgersian, Elle Duncan, and Lauren Shehadi
Color Analysis & Legends:
- Barry Bonds.
- CC Sabathia.
- Anthony Rizzo.
- Albert Pujols.
- Hunter Pence.
Picture: Color analysis and legends Barry Bonds, CC Sabathia, Anthony Rizzo, Albert Pujols, Hunter Pence.
Special Guest Feature:
- NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin.
Picture: Michael Irvin playing for the Dallas Cowboys in 1993 – Getty Images
Which MLB stars are taking part in the MLB: Home Run Derby?
Netflix has confirmed the following members for the MLB: Home Run Derby:
- Boston Red Sox slugger Willson Contreras.
- Chicago White Sox rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami.
- St. Louis Cardinals’ outfielder Jordan Walker.
- Kansas City Royals second-year star Jac Caglianone.
- Philadelphia Phillies’ nine-time All-Star Bryce Harper.
- Philadelphia Phillies’ reigning All-Star MVP Kyle Schwarber.
- New York Yankees’ first-time All-Star Ben Rice.
- Tampa Bay Rays’ third baseman and 2025 runner-up Junior Caminero.
What are the changes made for the MLB: Home Run Derby?
Some massive changes are coming for the 2026 MLB: Home Run Derby!
This year will see the removal of the timer, and there will be no “outs.” This means all participants will step up to the batter’s box with the opportunity to hit as many home runs as possible within the swing limit.
In our interview with MLB host Lauren Shehadi, she provided some excellent insight into what fans can expect from the format changes:
“The technology side is different this year in that there’s no clock. So years past, the Derby has been on a clock system where you have a certain finite amount of time to take your swings. So we’ve seen players be exhausted by the end of the round, and their swings aren’t exactly the pure swings that they’d want to—put together when they’re trying to put their best foot forward. This is completely different. They’re going to be so fit on these pitches. This is the mix of strength and selection, and the pitcher in tune with you. So there’s a little bit of strategy involved, not just pure strength.”
Picture (L to R): Matt Vasbersian, Lauren Shehadi and Mark DeRosa
Here’s the full breakdown for the Home Run Derby:
- Round 1 – 20 Swings.
- Round 2 – 15 Swings.
- Finals – 15 Swings.
Home runs will not extend the allotted swings with the exception of the final swing. If a player hits a home run on the final swing, they will continue to swing until they no longer hit a home run.
This year there will be no bonus rounds, and there are no “brackets” for the first round. Tiebreakers will also be decided by Home Run Distance in Round 1. Meanwhile, tie-breakers will be determined by a three-swing swing-off for Rounds 2 and 3.
There will also be eliminations, so it’s imperative for the batters to go all out with their allotted swings.
MLB host Lauren Shehadi also shared her excitement about the drama of the eliminations:
“You are going to see on your screen the great entertainment that baseball brings. It will draw you in. I guarantee that because it’s everything that we like about sport, right? We like competition, we like strength, we like strategy, and we like when it’s one-on-one, so we’re going to see that there are eight participants in the home run derby. It’s going to go down to four, and then it’s going to go one-on-four and two-on-three. So it’s head-to-head competition, and we’re going to bring you inside real time on the field right before their swings. So it’s the strategy and the power, and you’re going to see it all play out on your screen. So I can’t imagine that you don’t want to keep it on the screen. It’s going to be something else.”
What if you’ve never watched baseball before?
If you’ve never watched baseball before, then the MLB: Home Run Derby will be the perfect event to introduce you to the sport.
Lauren Shehadi made it clear that coverage will strive to provide great content for new audiences:
“First-time viewers just want to see a show, right? So how do you weave that together? It’s an interesting dynamic, and I think there are different people on our broadcast to do that. We have some of the best vloggers in the game. On our broadcast, they’re going to talk about what kind of swings they’re taking, right? They’re going to talk about what they know. They played 18 years in the show. I’m gonna leave that to them, then we have our play-by-play announcer who’s one of the best. He has a flair for the dramatic and a knack for the big moment and a voice to carry it, and I’m gonna leave that to him.”
Are you looking forward to watching the MLB: Home Run Derby on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
