PHILADELPHIA — Already the biggest entity in the streaming wars, Netflix is now looking to put its stamp on MLB’s Home Run Derby.
Netflix will exclusively show Monday night’s home run contest from Citizens Bank Park, forming a key part of a three-year rights deal signed last fall with the league while debuting a new look to this year’s midseason showcase. Following the opening night broadcast in late March between the Yankees and Giants, the Home Run Derby represents arguably the biggest baseball presence yet for Netflix.
“We’ve always loved the Home Run Derby, and when we had the conversations with MLB and this opportunity came up, we pounced,” Netflix VP of sports Gabe Spitzer tells Front Office Sports. “The derby really fits in our overall programming strategy. It’s a big event with big personalities and something that resonates across a wide audience.”
The Home Run Derby broadcast, which will be available globally, will feature Lauren Shehadi, Matt Vasgersian, and Elle Duncan leading the coverage, along with appearances by MLB legends Barry Bonds, Hunter Pence, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rizzo, and CC Sabathia.
The event represents yet another significant move for Netflix to get deeper into live sports. That effort includes an expanded, five-game rights package in 2026 with the NFL unveiled in May, but also is a strategy that remains focused on high-profile events as opposed to full-season rights deals.
