The home run derby should have more home runs, says Bryce Harper. 

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Phillies slugger wants aluminum bats for the home run derby during All-Star weekend. 

Harper said specifically when the gold balls come out. 

Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper reacts after hitting a two-run double against Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes during the fourth inning. AP Photo/Matt Slocum

In past editions of the Home Run Derby, the gold balls were used at various points such as when the hitter was down to their last out, typically resulting in a charitable donation if a home run is hit. 

Aluminum bats would give a huge leap to the derby competitors. 

In a study, Society for American Baseball Research found aluminum bats allowed exit speeds of +16.37 mph to a comparable wood bat. 

This year’s home run derby will have a new format with each hitter getting 20 swings in the first round rather than a set amount of outs or time. 

The top four will advance to the semifinals, where each hitter has 15 swings to hit as many home runs as possible. 

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) bats against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The finals will also feature just 15 swings. 

The new format is in light of injury concerns that come with a clock. 

“The Derby is physically demanding, doubly so with the clock. While the race against time was fun for fans, it was asking a lot of the athletes involved to take max-effort, violent swings every few seconds for three or four minutes straight, trying to beat the buzzer,” MLB.com wrote. 

Harper is one of eight contestants in this year’s edition of the derby. 

He will be joined by teammate Kyle Schwarber, Ben Rice, Junior Caminero, Jac Caglianone, Willson Contreras and Jordan Walker. 

The eighth is yet to be announced. 

So far in 2026, Harper has 86 hits with 20 home runs and a .870 OPS.