MLB Fans Rip ESPN's Main Home Run Derby Broadcast, Flock to Statcast Edition

Fans were not impressed with ESPN's main broadcast of the Home Run Derby, to say the least.

Fans lauded the Statcast edition of ESPN2's broadcast of the Home Run Derby, mainly because it allowed them to see where the balls were actually going. / Screengrab Twitter @awfulannouncing

It has not been a good start to the night for ESPN at the Home Run Derby.

First, NFL-punter-turned-podcaster Pat McAfee and producer Ty Schmit handled the introductions for the Home Run Derby participants, to the dismay of fans, many of whom felt McAfee's amped-up emceeing was loud and unnecessary.

Unfortunately for ESPN, that was only the beginning of fans' ire with the network, because the Derby started moments later—and fans were immediately annoyed by ESPN's main broadcast, which featured a split-screen that left doubts as to where the home runs were actually going.

Anyone else think this split screen ESPN coverage of the HR Derby is awful? Can't gauge it at all. And now I think I have vertigo.

— Dan Connolly (@danconnolly2016) July 15, 2025

This split screen in the Derby isn’t working. Can hardly see the swings and cutting from ball to ball in the air is just disorienting.

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 15, 2025

Split screen does not work for HR derby

— Travis Sawchik (@Travis_Sawchik) July 15, 2025

Disgusted with the main broadcast, fans then flocked on over to ESPN2, the network's neighboring channel that featured a Statcast edition of the broadcast.

Here's a look at the Home Run Derby on the Statcast broadcast in comparison.

Kevin Brown has that call for ESPN2.⚾️📺 #MLB #HomeRunDerby https://t.co/1KsjpmZlr4 pic.twitter.com/C4bRbJUzGq

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 15, 2025

Immediately, fans were in agreement on one thing.

The ESPN2 Statcast version of the derby is much much better

— JL (@JLas43_) July 15, 2025

ESPN2 Statcast broadcast is infinitely better. I highly suggest everyone go watch that broadcast instead https://t.co/a1m9PgV3R2

— Marc Luino (@GiraffeNeckMarc) July 15, 2025

The camera work on the ESPN statcast broadcast is much better. In case yall were wondering

— Keviñ (@ChikinChop) July 15, 2025

Kevin Brown and the #Statcast crew on ESPN2 > the ESPN broadcast

BY A LOT.#HomeRunDerby

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) July 15, 2025

Yeah the Statcast telecast of the HR Derby is much better

— Mike Lefko (@MikeLefko) July 15, 2025

When one of the main complaints of fans watching a Home Run Derby is that they can't see where the home runs are going, there might just be a problem. But kudos to ESPN for offering the alternate broadcast. Fans would really find themselves in a pickle if they didn't have the option to watch the Statcast edition.

If it makes fans feel any better, ESPN will no longer be carrying the Home Run Derby after the 2025 season, as MLB declined to continue its media rights partnership with the network.

---

More MLB on Sports Illustrated

feed