Little League World Series Home Run Derby format, explained: Rounds, time limit, more to know for 2024 event

2024-08-22
4 min read
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Get ready to watch some dingers. 

The championship games of the 2024 Little League World Series are nearly here, as there are just two teams each left in the U.S. and international brackets. However, before a 2024 LLWS champion can be crowned, there needs to be a new title holder in the Little League World Series Home Run Derby. 

This marks the sixth year that Williamsport is having a Home Run Derby as a part of the festivities. Like the baseball tournament, the event starts at the local level, with players advancing to their state competitions and then their regions. 

The top four finishers at both the East and West Region Finals, which were held at T-Mobile Park in Seattle and Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, have earned a trip to compete for their respective baseball and softball titles. The eight competitors compete on Thursday and the derby will be aired on Friday. 

Here is what to know about the Little League World Series Home Run Derby and its format. 

MORE: Who won the 2024 LLWS? Updated bracket, scores, schedule

Little League World Series Home Run Derby format

The official rules of the 2024 LLWS Home Run Derby have not been released. However, it is likely going to be based on the format of last year's Derby. 

The eight boys and eight girls competing in their respective brackets will go head-to-head against another player in a three-round, single-elimination competition. Each batter has 1:30 to hit as many balls out of the park as possible. There is a makeshift "wall" created in the middle of the outfield, so the players do not need to hit it completely out of Volunteer Stadium for it to be considered a home run. 

The winners of the four head-to-head quarterfinal matchups advance to the semifinals, where the same format occurs. Those winners then face off in the winner-take-all finals. 

If the format of the competition sounds familiar, that is because that is the same as the current MLB structure used for its Home Run Derby. Eight batters battle in the single elimination style, so it's not necessarily about hitting the most home runs out in the stage — it's about hitting more than whoever you are up against in the round. 

MORE: LLWS coach rips Aaron Judge, Yankees after allegedly bailing on meet-and-greet

Little League Home Run Derby finalists 2024

Softball Division

Player Region Little League (State)
Trinity Belle East Region Montoursville (Pennsylvania)
Addison Bono East Region Lake Mary (Florida)
Gabriella Gibson East Region Warren County Girls Softball (Virginia)
Reese Matter West Region Washoe (Nevada)
Emmeline Moore  East Region Byron Township (Michigan)
Karolina Ruiz West Region Santa Fe (New Mexico)
Sophia Silverstein West Region Marana (Arizona)
Mia Zuniga West Region Ponytail Softball  (Arizona)

Baseball Division

Player Region Little League (State)
Landon Bono East Region Lake Mary (Florida)
Lyle Huggler Jr East Region Montgomery (Pennsylvania)
Jacob Justice West Region Peccole (Nevada)
Charlie LeBlanc West Region Lake Oswego (Oregon)
Gunnar Maney East Region Mt. Pleasant/Union Township (Michigan)
Matthew Rivas West Region Washoe (Nevada)
Elijah Saldana West Region Huntington West (California)
Jack Shaw East Region Fairfax (Virginia)