And if at any point the second hitter pulls ahead of the first hitter, the round ends right then and there. That initial two- or three-minute period will be followed by either a 30-second segment of bonus time or a 60-second segment, depending on whether the player hits two home runs that travels at least 440 feet during the first two or three minutes. (Seeds were based on home run total through July 4, with tiebreakers based on who had hit the most home runs from June 15 through July 4.)įor the first two rounds, each hitter gets three minutes-two minutes in the championship-during which time he is allowed one 45-second timeout while trying to hit as many home runs as possible. Yes, even better than the NBA's Slam Dunk contest.Īnd when you inevitably tune in Monday night for the 2023 rendition of moonshots, taters and tank jobs, there will be no shortage of star power or storyline intrigue.Īs a quick reminder of the format, it's a head-to-head bracket in which the better-seeded hitter will bat second in each round. It's the most entertaining exhibition spectacle in sports. Follow Jeff Eisenband on Twitter Like Jeff Eisenband on Facebook.New York Mets' Pete Alonso Rich Schultz/Getty ImagesĬonfessions of a Baseball-aholic: I don't always watch Major League Baseball's All-Star Game, but I do always watch the Home Run Derby. Nobody loves the opportunity to hair flip more than Bryce Harper. Harper donned an image of late Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez on his Miami Bryce cleats for the actual All-Star Game.įor you Nino! #JDF /jBWxNERwjsįor what it's worth, Harper went 1-for-1 with a walk at the All-Star Game and made a diving catch with a hair flip. Harper used his appearance in Miami to not only showcase his cleat, but to showcase a former All-Star Game teammate. Of course, when they come out, a lot of guys will start wearing them."Īaron Judge and Cody Bellinger were also among Under Armour stars at the All-Star Game, although, it is unknown if the two young guns will strap up the Harper 2. "He actually hit a homer in 'em, so I'll take that. "Freddie Freeman's tried 'em out actually," Harper says. In fact, some players have already snuck the footwear into their wardrobe. Harper won't be the only MLB star to wear the Harper 2. Stephen Curry, who battled ankle injuries early in his NBA career, is already on his third signature Under Armour basketball sneaker. Of course, Under Armour is used to being delicate with ankles. Harper also says the strap is "big for me," considering its ankle support. "So rubber, for the comfort of your heel and your hamstrings on the back, trying to be as comfortable as you can, especially when we're standing out there for large periods of time and then having the stability of the front when you're digging into the box."Īccording to Under Armour, this is technically a 3-3-4 hybrid cleat plate formation. "The bottom of this cleat, rubber on the back, metal on the front," Harper says. The pink and teal colorway, which also includes palm trees, brought flash to All-Star week.Īs for the engineering of the shoe, Harper is following a modern scientific theory: Metal isn't always better. The Nationals star unveiled the "Miami Bryce," while introducing the cleat at All-Star Game FanFest Monday morning on an Under Armour panel with Heidi Watney of MLB Network. The first Harper 2 colorway backs up Harper's point about looking sleek. I'm just trying to have that feel of you're not really wearing anything, pretty much." "Soccer, having that stability, having that sleek look, a lot of the cleats you see there are super lightweight, which I like. I took a lot of feedback from what kids wanted also - high school, college, pro.
"I looked at a lot of their basketball shoes, a lot of their soccer stuff, a lot of their lacrosse stuff, as well, and just tried to get a good vibe in what I wanted to do. Harper tells ThePostGame he had "free rein" on the Harper 2 and looked for ideas from a variety of sports outside baseball. Under Armour released the Harper 2, Harper's second signature cleat with the brand, at noon this past Monday, July 10. Harper, who appeared in his fifth All-Star Game this week - at 24 - came armed with a new toy. Part of that process involves making his gear fun. Bryce Harper is on a self-declared journey to make baseball fun again.
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