Major League Baseball is set to be the latest American sports league to dip their toes in the British market across the pond with the launch of Home Run Derby X.
The event, held at Crystal Palace Park in London on July 9, will mark an exciting new format of baseball. Inspired by the MLB All-Star Home Run Derby that captivates fans of the sport around the world on an annual basis, HRDX is a team-based competition that will see iconic franchises like the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees take their teams to London, Seoul and Mexico City in 2022.
Each team will be made up from an eclectic mix of iconic superstars, rookies, wild cards and MLB legends, including Adrian Gonzalez, Jonny Gomes, Geovany Soto and Nick Swisher. Swisher, who won the 2009 World Series with the Yankees, is fired up about the idea of introducing a new iteration of baseball to foreign shores.
“I think at the end of the day, it’s something a little different, right? It’s a bit more exciting to try to gain new fans, and I think that's the coolest part about this entire journey: to help grow the game,” Swisher exclusively told The Mirror, with his excitement for the HRDX clear thanks to his welcome enthusiasm and infectious energy.
“I can't do my part on the field anymore, but to be able to go out and bring our game to the front doorstep of people who maybe haven't seen it up close and personal is exciting.
“Home runs are the best part about baseball; just being able to hit balls into the stratosphere. I’ve spoken to a few of the guys, and for retired guys like ourselves to be able to put the uniform back on and do it one more time, I’m so excited. The only thing better than a slam dunk contest is a home run derby.”
The MLB HRDX is unlike a typical baseball game as it is made up of a set of fast-paced games set to take place on a reduced baseball field. The rules are altered to allow for additional scoring opportunities such as hitting target strikes, hot streak balls and stealing home runs.
Swisher knows all about scoring at the highest level as he smashed 245 home runs across a career which spanned 12 seasons. The 41-year-old, an MLB All-Star in 2010, is excited to bring his scoring skills to London and show British fans the thrill of a home run.
“Hitting a home run is almost like if you took a hot knife and sliced it right through a stick of butter - that sort of effortless feeling,” Swisher revealed, almost salivating at the idea of striking a stunning homer. “I’ve never felt something so good before.
“Nowadays, it’s a complete celebration when you score a home run with the music and likes. By shrinking the field a little bit, there should be more home runs hit - which means more entertainment. Who wouldn’t want to be part of something like this? I’m still pinching myself - we’re going to be able to meet so many different people and learn about new cultures. It’s going to be great.”
With all the new rules, there is a worry that baseball purists could reject the HRDX, even though the event could be utilised as a testing ground for the Home Run Derby itself. Swisher quickly quashed such a suggestion, though, and hailed the upcoming event’s radical attempts at making baseball more appealing.
“You’re teetering on that line for sure, but I don’t like putting it into a black-and-white ‘old school’ versus ‘new school’ narrative,” Swisher added as he contemplated how changes may be received by fans. “Baseball is definitely a different game now than it was in the past. Young kids are learning the game metrically rather than fundamentally in order to work out which numbers and statistics they need to achieve to have success.
“Hopefully something like this can raise a bit of excitement and maybe there are important changes that will come out of it. I’m a baseball historian at heart, but I also have a unique perspective on understanding the game must evolve and change.
“For some people, change is a big word - but if the changes make our game better, I’m all for it. If they make it worse, we won’t implement them. It’s all about trying new things.
“Listen, it’s hard to keep people’s attention for three or four hours even at a sporting event - there’s a lot of cool things to do in the world nowadays. Our ultimate goal is to be able to bring fans back to our game and get them excited about what we’re doing.”
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The MLB has joined the likes of the NBA and NFL in growing their presence in the UK, with the Red Sox and Yankees facing off against one another in 2019 with the Yankees winning 17-13 and 12-8. Swisher praised the annual commitment shown by the NFL, and believes MLB want to follow suit and take advantage of a potential new market.
Swisher, who works as a special adviser to the Yankees and admitted his blood ‘runs thick’ when it comes to the franchise, hopes the MLB HRDX in London will promote the game and inspire young players to pick up a bat and glove.
“Maybe we’ll introduce the game to people who have never seen it before and the next Mike Trout is in the UK,” Swisher concluded. “At the end of the day, if this sparks the fire for some young athletes, then hot damn! Let’s do it.”
To find out more, check out mlb.com/HomeRunDerbyX . You can follow the full Home Run Derby X Tour at @mlb and @MLBEurope. MLB will 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. #HomeRunDerbyX @MLBEurope
