ESPN is back on the 2013 MLB Home Run Derby on Monday, July 15, the day before the MLB All-Star Game. The event usually does well on a night that has a minimum of sporting events.
The event takes the air at 8 p.m. ET and supposedly will take two hours, but it never finishes that quickly. America’s overextended houseguest, Chris Berman will return to call the event and will attempt to make location calls (“That ball is hit towards Islip!”). He’ll be joined by Sunday Night Baseball co-analyst John Kruk and Baseball Tonight analyst Nomar Garciaparra. Conducting on-field interviews will be Buster Olney and Pedro Gomez.
Making the event a complete nightmare, Pitbull who’s being forcefed to a tired audience, will perform “Feel This Moment” off his new album. Whatever.
Here’s the ESPN announcement.
ESPN to Televise 2013 Home Run Derby
ESPN will televise the 2013 Home Run Derby on Monday, July 15, at 8 p.m. ET from Citi Field in New York. This will mark the 21st consecutive year ESPN has aired the Home Run Derby. The Derby will also be available on ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes and on computers, smartphones, tablets, Xbox and Apple TV via WatchESPN.
David Wright (New York Mets) and Robinson Cano (New York Yankees) will serve as Home Run Derby captains. Both players made their Derby team selections on the 6 p.m. edition of SportsCenter on July 8. National League: Wright, Carlos Gonzalez (Colorado Rockies), Michael Cuddyer (Colorado Rockies) and Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals). American League: Cano, Chris Davis (Baltimore Orioles), defending Derby champion Prince Fielder (Detroit Tigers), TBD.
Home Run Derby commentators
ESPN’s Chris Berman will host the Home Run Derby telecast with analysts John Kruk (Sunday Night Baseball, Baseball Tonight) and Nomar Garciaparra (Baseball Tonight). Additionally, ESPN MLB Insiders Buster Olney and Pedro Gomez will provide reports, which will include interviews with MLB All-Stars and Derby participants.
Home Run Derby production
- ESPN’s Derby telecast will include enhanced distance tracking with on-screen Virtual Home Run Icons that mark the landing distance of a home run baseball from home plate. ESPN will utilize three cameras – an increase from one in previous years – which will allow viewers to instantly see the landing distance of home runs from different angles.
- ESPN Ball Track technology will provide a virtual spray chart of home runs after participants have finished their at-bats. Ball Track will also track select live home runs.
- The Home Run Derby opening segment will include highlights of great home run moments in New York history, including the “Shot Heard Round the World,” Roger Maris’ 61st and Mike Piazza’s dramatic post-September 11 home run.
- International recording artist Pitbull will perform “Feel This Moment” from his new album Global Warming during ESPN’s Home Run Derby telecast. The performance will begin shortly after 8 p.m.
Baseball Tonight & SportsCenter
A special one-hour Baseball Tonight will emanate from the ballpark at 7 p.m. leading into the Derby. Host Karl Ravech will be joined by analysts Kruk, Curt Schilling and Baseball Hall-of-Famer Barry Larkin. The crew will reconvene for a post-Derby telecast at midnight. Additionally, SportsCenter will be on site at Citi Field for live segments throughout the day, beginning at 1 p.m. Both Baseball Tonight and SportsCenter will be on site July 16, for the MLB All-Star game.
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio will serve as the exclusive radio broadcast home of the Home Run Derby. ESPN Radio’s Sunday Night Baseball tandem of Jon Sciambi and analyst Chris Singleton will describe the action with reporter Peter Pascarelli, who will be interviewing Derby participants and All-Stars. ESPN Radio will also broadcast the MLB All-Star Game, July 16, at 7:30 p.m.
Mike & Mike
Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic from ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike will provide the Home Run Derby call over the Citi Field public address system for those at the stadium. The Mike & Mike show will be on site at Legends sports bar in New York (6-10 a.m.) both Monday, July 15, and Tuesday, July 16.
ESPN Deportes
ESPN Deportes will televise the Home Run Derby at 8 p.m. with commentary from Ernesto Jerez, Luis Alfredo Alvarez, Ozzie Guillen and Guillermo Celis. Additionally, Beisbol Esta Noche will preview the Derby with Carolina Guillen and Candy Maldonado at 7 p.m. ESPN Deportes Radio will have special coverage around the Derby and will also broadcast the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday.
ESPN.com
- Live, digital episode of Baseball Tonight at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 15, with ESPN MLB Insiders Buster Olney, Tim Kurkjian and Jayson Stark. Additional Baseball Tonight spotlights and the Baseball Tonight Minute offer analysis, highlights and previews throughout the week.
- Home Run Derby Tracker Hub, the premiere online destination for MLB All-Star Week coverage includes a real-time leaderboard with Derby participant statistics and home run measurements, an overlay graphic of Citi Field with mapping of each participant’s 2013 home runs, interactive player cards with home run metrics, a live stream of the Home Run Derby on WatchESPN and ESPN Radio, bonus video from Citi Field, the Home Run Derby Rank ‘Em Fantasy Game and an interactive chat with social media integration using #HRDerby.
ESPN will televise the 2013 All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game immediately following the conclusion of the Derby. Additionally, ESPN2 will televise the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday, July 14, at 2 p.m. Additional ESPN MLB All-Star coverage details will be announced this week.
There you have it.
