Nick Swisher Backs 2026 Home Run Derby Format Ahead of MLB All-Star Weekend

Q: After its Philadelphia debut, is the swing-based format the permanent future for the Home Run Derby?

No. Based on the available reporting, Major League Baseball has not said the swing-based format that debuted in Philadelphia is the permanent future of the Home Run Derby. What is clear is that MLB made a major one-year change for 2026, replacing the timed system used from 2015 through 2025 with a fixed-swing format: 20 swings in the first round and 15 in the semifinals and final, plus the rule allowing a hitter to keep going if he homers on his last allotted swing. League executive Morgan Sword said the goal was to slow the event down, simplify it for viewers, and reduce fatigue and pitcher-related distortions. There is evidence the new setup landed well with participants. Kyle Schwarber, Jordan Walker and Willson Contreras all praised the pacing and the chance to take fuller swings. The format also produced the kind of late drama MLB wanted, with Walker winning the title in Philadelphia. But none of that amounts to a long-term commitment. The reporting repeatedly frames the format as a redesign for 2026, not a permanent rule change. Some coverage also notes mixed early reviews, including concerns about slower stretches between swings, and suggests MLB will evaluate how it worked before deciding whether to keep it, tweak it again, or move in another direction. So the best answer is that the swing-based Derby is the present format, not yet a confirmed permanent one.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 15

Nick Swisher said he is excited for MLB All-Star Weekend, putting particular focus on the Home Run Derby’s new 2026 format.
The latest update centers less on a competitive result than on Swisher’s endorsement of the event setup, signaling support for MLB’s format change.
With no game outcome or roster news in the report, the main takeaway is the derby’s revised structure as a fresh talking point heading into the showcase weekend.