Home Run Derby X Marks The Spot For MLB ‘High-Energy’ Baseball, Music Tour

By Barry Janoff

March 30, 2022: In an effort to tap into a younger generation of fans who are familiar with ESPN’s frenetic-paced X Games and the high-octane Coachella and Bonnaroo music festivals, Major League Baseball has unveiled MLB Home Run Derby X, an up-tempo and reformatted version of the Home Run Derby.

Home Run Derby X will go on tour to London, Seoul and Mexico City between July and October, featuring former players, players from developmental leagues and players from women’s baseball and softball teams.

The roster for each team will include “influential content creators.”

Marketing support and event sponsors will be unveiled prior to the start of each competition.

MLB teams involved in the inaugural tour include the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees.

Among those currently committed to play in Home Run Derby X are former stars Adrian Gonzalez (who will represent the Dodgers), Jonny Gomes (Red Sox), Geovany Soto (Cubs) and Nick Swisher (Yankees).

(See full rosters below.)

MLB said Home Run Derby X was “developed with the goal of attracting a new audience, creating high-energy live-event experiences and opportunities for digital storytelling.”

As such, each stop will offer beyond baseball a festival-type atmosphere, to include live music, ballpark food, fashion and gaming.

The baseball part of the event will also look different.

MLB said Home Run Derby X would be played on a smaller version of a baseball field, with home plate mounted on a stage and the pitcher’s mound on a podium.

The field of play is adaptable and has been designed to fit within a variety of environments, from festival sites to stadiums.

Each team will consist of competitors from four categories: MLB Legend, Superstar, Rookie and Wild Card.

According to MLB, Legends are MLB icons “who bring big hitting talent to the roster.

Superstars are the best talent from softball and women’s baseball.

Rookies are from the men’s baseball development system.

Wild Cards are influential content creators “fired up for a huge challenge, as they embark on an intensive training program taking them from baseball beginner to big hitter.”

Among them, Red Sox Wild Card Liv Cooke is a British pro football freestyler, five-time world record holder and former freestyle world champ.

Red Sox Superstar Paige Halsread was a softball outfielder and catcher for UCLA who now plays pro softball for Athletes Unlimited Softball.

Yankees Superstar Erika Piancastelli played on the women’s softball team for McNeese State and represented Italy at the Tokyo Summer Games.

The four teams will compete in a bracket style competition at each event.

Based on where they finish, will be awarded points to determine their position on the Home Run Derby X Tour leaderboard.

The leaderboard will determine seedings for the final event of the Tour which will be played as a knock-out competition to determine the Home Run Derby X Tour Champions.
 
The inaugural tour includes stops London’s Crystal Palace Park (July 9), Seoul (Sept. 17, site TBD) and Mexico City (Oct. 15, site TBD).

Details about tickets for each Home Run Derby X event has not as yet been released.

People will be able to follow Home Run Derby X @mlb and regional channels @MLBEurope, @mlb.korea and @MLBMexico.

MLB said it would be documenting the progress of the teams, the Wild Card’s training journey and all the live and behind-the-scenes action from each event.

Currently rosters (subject to change), with the Rookies TBD:

• Boston Red Sox

Jonny Gomes, MLB Legend

Paige Halstead, Superstar

Liv Cooke, Wild Card

• Chicago Cubs

Geo Soto, MLB Legend

Alex Hugo, Superstar

Spencer Owen, Wild Card

• Los Angeles Dodgers

Adrián González, MLB Legend

Ashton Lansdell, Superstar

Yoongy Kwak, Wild Card

• New York Yankees

Nick Swisher, MLB Legend

Erika Piancastelli, Superstar

Stefania Aradillas, Superstar (Mexico only)

Daniel Corral, Wild Card

Back to Home Page