MLB Home Run Derby set to drop the clock again, returning to a swing-based format for 2026

Major League Baseball is reportedly altering the format for its midseason Home Run Derby once more, with the biggest change being the return of a swing-based approach and the elimination of the clock. The update matters because the Derby’s rules have long influenced pacing, strategy, and how hitters and managers decide whether to chase volume early or conserve swings for later rounds.

According to The Athletic, as summarized by CBS Sports, MLB plans to remove the timing element that has been used in recent versions of the event, then revert to the older swing-based format. MLB has not yet announced the change publicly, so the specific mechanics of how swings will be allocated and tracked are not confirmed as of this writing.

The 2026 Home Run Derby is scheduled for Monday, July 13, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The location and date anchor the calendar, but the format is often the real storyline. A clock can force hitters to prioritize rapid production and can also change how long a participant’s “setup” phase lasts, while a swing-based structure typically puts more weight on accumulating runs within a defined number of attempts.

MLB has historically adjusted Derby rules in cycles, responding to concerns from players and audiences about fairness, viewer understanding, and whether the event rewards the intended skill set. By moving away from the clock again, MLB would be indicating that it wants the competition to resemble a more direct test of power during a fixed swing allotment rather than a race against time.

For fans, a swing-based Derby generally offers a clearer scoreboard narrative: once swing totals are established, each participant’s output can be interpreted as a more straightforward measure of results per attempt. For managers and players, it can change the approach to warmups, bat selection, and the tempo of at-bats, especially for hitters whose strength profile suggests different optimal conditions.

Still, until MLB provides a formal announcement, there are limits to what can be stated confidently about the final product. Even when the broad direction is reported as “swing-based,” the details can vary, such as how many swings are available in each round or how tiebreakers are handled.

What to watch next is whether MLB releases an official rules document and how it explains the change to teams and broadcasters. The Derby format is scheduled to take place in less than a month from the date of reporting, so the window for confirmation is relatively short.