New Home Run Derby Format for Next Week’s All Star Game- Will You Watch?

Major League Baseball is changing things up for this year's State Farm Home Run Derby.

This season, Major League Baseball selected team captains for the American and National Leagues, David Ortiz (pictured) and Prince Fielder, respectively.  Ortiz and Fielder were then allowed to select three All Star Game players to round out their team.

The American League features David Ortiz (BOS), Robinson Cano (NYY), Adrian Gonzalez (BOS) & Jose Bautista (TOR).  While the National League team will be comprised of Prince Fielder (MIL), Matt Kemp (LAD), Rickie Weeks (MIL) & Matt Holliday (STL).

Following the Home Run Derby, charitable contributions will be made to the Boys & Girls Club of American and charities selected by both team captains.  The amount of money donated to the Boys & Girls Club of America will be dependent on the amount of homers hit during the derby.

The Home Run Derby will still consist of three rounds, with each hitter getting 10 outs.  The first round includes all eight participants.  The second round will consist of the top four home run hitters from the first round, and the Championship Round will have the two hitters with the most home runs from the first two rounds battle it out for bragging rights.

The rules and format for the Home Run Derby have changed over the years, along with increased television exposure.  In past years hitters weren't able to carry over their homers from the first round to the second round, but this year they will.

I will probably tune in for the derby, but I find that I lose attention quickly if the All Stars aren't slugging a lot of balls over the fence.