MLB Will Shorten The Home Run Derby Because Of The Weather

Severe weather is expected in much of the Midwest tonight, and that includes Cincinnati, home of the All-Star Game and tonight’s Home Run Derby. There’s the possibility of lightning, damaging winds, and downpours like the ones that rolled through this afternoon:

MLB believes there will be a window to get in the Derby, which is scheduled to begin at 8:00 EDT. But to make sure that window doesn’t shut, it’s going to tighten things up. Rather than the five minutes each player was to get to launch their homers, it’ll now be four minutes apiece. And the bonuses for long home runs will be curtailed as well.

Fewer dingers! Oh well. We are really looking forward to the stacked field and new rules at this year’s HR Derby, but getting it in at all, and doing so safely, is paramount. The only other time in the event’s history that the Derby was canceled was in 1988—in Cincinnati.