MLB announced Sunday that this season’s Home Run Derby will begin bracket play in the semifinals of an updated format.

According to a social media post by MLB Communications, the Derby “will take on a new twist” which will see the opening round “in which the top four home run hitters will advance.” Previously, the eight competitors were seeded and faced one another in a head-to-head, single-elimination style.

The 2024 @TMobile Home Run Derby on Monday, 7/15 at 8:00 pm (ET) on @ESPN has its first confirmed participant!

Gunnar Henderson will attempt to become the first @Orioles player in 20 years to win the annual competition, which will take on a new twist this year with bracket play… pic.twitter.com/YPyUR4t36T

— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) June 30, 2024

Among the biggest changes this year includes a pitch limit, which will see a count of 40 pitches — or three minutes, whichever comes first — in the first round and semifinals in addition to 27 pitches in the finals.

According to Cole Jacobson of MLB.com, bonus pitches and the bonus period will also be changed. Each hitter “now gets bonus pitches up until they record three outs within that bonus period,” and “if a player hits a home run of at least 425 feet within the bonus period, then the bonus period is extended to last until the player records his fourth out in that period.” The distance of home runs during the regulation period “no longer” leads to more bonus time, according to MLB.com.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the updated rules were made “with some of the changes designed to reduce the frantic pace that has concerned past participants.” In 2024, there will be updated flow and pitch limits that aim to keep the Derby from becoming less like batting practice in terms of the speed between pitches and swings, heightening the efficiency of the pitcher-hitter chemistry.

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson announced during ESPN’s broadcast of Sunday Night Baseball against the Texas Rangers that he’s the first competitor to enter the Derby field. Henderson will have a chance to become the first Oriole to win the Derby since shortstop Miguel Tejada in 2004.

Here are the complete updated competition flow and rules of the 2024 Home Run Derby.

Competition Flow

First Round

• Eight hitters (top-four advance). Tie is broken by the longest home run in the first round.

Semifinals

• Bracket Style: No. 3 seed vs. No. 2; No. 4 vs. No. 1
• Based on First Round home run totals

Finals

• Top-two Face Off

Rules

First Round and Semifinals

• 3 minute round. 40 pitches. One timeout.
• Three bonus outs (every swing is a home run or an out).
• A 425-foot home run in the bonus period earns a fourth bonus out.

Finals

• 2 minute round. 27 pitches. One timeout.
• Same bonus rules apply.