Bryce Harper suggests aluminum bats for Derby bonus rounds

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper has proposed a dramatic change to the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, suggesting players be allowed to use aluminum bats during the event's bonus rounds. Harper made the suggestion on Friday, July 10, ahead of the 2026 Derby scheduled for Monday, July 13, at Citizens Bank Park.

The idea centers on the use of special gold baseballs, which in past Derbies have been introduced at key moments, such as when a hitter is down to their final out, with home runs hit off them often triggering charitable donations. Harper specifically suggested that hitters should be permitted to switch to aluminum bats when those gold balls are in play, arguing it would increase the spectacle by generating more and longer home runs.

Research from the Society for American Baseball Research indicates aluminum bats can increase ball exit velocities by 15 to 20 miles per hour compared to traditional wood bats. This potential for dramatically harder-hit baseballs has sparked immediate debate, with significant concerns raised about fan and participant safety. Critics argue that baseballs struck at such extreme speeds by elite power hitters could pose a serious risk...