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Philly prepares for Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park; road closures, participants, and more

Philadelphia last hosted the Derby in 1996. That event was won by Barry Bonds, who will be on Netflix's coverage.

The Phillie Phanatic meets with fans as MLB's All-Star Game takes over Philadelphia.
The Phillie Phanatic meets with fans as MLB's All-Star Game takes over Philadelphia.Read more
Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
What you should know

  1. The MLB Home Run Derby will take place in Philadelphia on Monday at 8 p.m. The event will stream exclusively on Netflix.

  2. Phillies sluggers Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber will both participate in the event, the first time Philly teammates have ever faced off in the Derby.

  3. There are several new rules in this year's Derby, including the elimination of the clock.

  4. The MLB draft was this weekend in Philly. The Phillies took an 18-year-old shortstop with their first round pick. Here is a rundown of their picks for Day 1 and Day 2.

Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper will be first Phillies teammates to compete in Home Run Derby

The Phillies haven’t had a Home Run Derby champion since 2006, when Ryan Howard blasted 23 total to take the crown.

This year, at Monday’s competition at Citizens Bank Park, they will have double the chance. Because for the first time in the 41-year history of the Derby, the Phillies have a pair of teammates competing against each other. Kyle Schwarber announced Friday that he would officially be joining Bryce Harper in the event.

“I just wanted to make sure pretty much getting through that series in Cincinnati, make sure everything was good healthwise, and everything’s been trending the right way. So that’s when we pretty much made a decision to do it,” Schwarber said.

Home Run Derby jumps from ESPN to Netflix

For the first time in more than 30 years, the Home Run Derby has a new broadcast home, and it won't appear on either broadcast or cable TV.

Instead, it will stream exclusively on Netflix beginning at 8 p.m. Philly time as part of a three-year deal that also included MLB’s opening night back in March and next month’s Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa between the Phillies and Minnesota Twins. 

Calling all the action will be Matt Vasgersian, with Elle Duncan and Lauren Shehadi also leading the coverage. Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rizzo, CC Sabathia, and former Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence will also provide analysis. 

Who is competing in the Home Run Derby?

  1. Kyle Schwarber, Phillies

  2. Bryce Harper, Phillies

  3. Jordan Walker, Cardinals

  4. Wilson Contreras, Red Sox

  5. Munetaka Murakami, White Sox

  6. Jac Caglianone, Royals

  7. Ben Rice, Yankees

  8. Junior Caminero, Rays

Not participating for the second straight season is Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso, one of only four players to win multiple Derby championships. Despite a strong first-half, Alonso wasn’t selected to this year’s All-Star Game.

Also not competing is last year’s winner, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who has struggled this year after being last year’s American League MVP runner-up.

» READ MORE: Who’s competing in the Home Run Derby? Meet the participants.

— Rob Tornoe

New rules for this year’s Home Run Derby

This year’s Derby has a different format that previous years.

For starters, there won’t be a timer. Instead, each slugger will get a set number of swings each round — 20 in the first round and 15 in both the second and final rounds.

The last Derby without a clock was 2014.

Philly road closures due to tonight's Home Run Derby

On Monday, Independence Mall will see road closures starting at 5 a.m. to accommodate building out the MLB Red Carpet Show. Set to be in place through midnight, those closures will impact:

  1. Fifth Street between Market and Chestnut Streets

  2. Ludlow Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets

  3. Randstead Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets

Independence Mall will remain tied up Tuesday for the MLB Red Carpet show itself, with closures again in place from 5 a.m. to midnight. Those closures will affect:

  1. Fifth and Sixth Streets from Arch to Walnut Streets

  2. Market and Chestnut Streets from Fourth to Seventh Streets

  3. Ranstead and Sansom Streets from Sixth to Seventh Streets

Philadelphia police, the city said, may institute additional closures in the interest of public safety.