Netflix broadcasts Home Run Derby, improves format and commentary
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 14, 2026, 3:00 AM
Last updated Jul 14, 2026
The MLB Home Run Derby aired on Netflix on July 13, 2026, featuring a new format that removed the countdown clock to allow hitters to swing as long as they continue making contact. This change was praised as an improvement to the event's rhythm. However, the broadcast struggled with segments featuring Will Ferrell and others, receiving negative feedback due to poor audio and humor. Commentators Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols provided subdued commentary from a lounge set, while Matt Vasgersian, Anthony Rizzo, and Hunter Pence were noted for their engaging analysis. Suggestions for improvement included using the lounge for quick player interviews between rounds.
- •Home Run Derby featured a new format without a countdown clock.
- •Will Ferrell's opening segment faced criticism for poor execution.
- •Bonds and Pujols provided commentary with limited effectiveness.
- •Rizzo and Pence delivered more engaging analysis during the event.
- 3:00 AMYahoo Sports — Netflix fixed the Home Run Derby’s biggest problem and created a new one
"Netflix’s second crack at live baseball came with a built-in advantage: the Home Run Derby doesn’t need much help to be entertaining. Strip away the ceremony, and it’s just batting practice with stakes, and this year, MLB handed the streamer a genuine upgrade by scrapping the countdown clock in favor of a format that lets hitters keep…
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