Machado set for Home Run Derby debut
Orioles third baseman matched up with LA rookie Pederson in first round
BALTIMORE -- Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is one of eight participants who will take part in the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday.
This year's Derby will introduce a new streamlined format featuring brackets and timed rounds. The players were seeded based on home-run totals through Tuesday's games.
Ranked as the No. 5 seed, Machado has been paired with No. 4 seed Joc Pederson in the first round. He would have to go through either No. 1 Albert Pujols or No. 8 Kris Bryant to make it to the finals.
Machado, who is participating in his second All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile, will compete in the Home Run Derby for the first time. The third baseman has been having a career year at the plate, hitting .301 with 18 doubles, a career-high 19 home runs and 48 RBIs.
Machado's best month was June, when he hit .365 with eight home runs. He has come a long way with his power performance, after hitting just 12 homers last season, 14 in 2013 and seven in '12.
The 86th All-Star Game presented by T-Mobile will be televised nationally by FOX Sports (7 p.m. ET air time, 8:15 first pitch), in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.
MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 supported MLB.TV platforms, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities, including the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13. The Derby will feature a new format with brackets and timed rounds and will be broadcast live by ESPN and MLB.com beginning at 8 p.m. ET.