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.

Baseball fans on social media could unite over one thing Monday night: ESPN’s coverage of MLB Home Run Derby was dizzying, confusing and tough to watch.

ESPN Facing Backlash Over Terrible HR Derby Broadcast originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The MLB Home Run Derby is an annual home run hitting competition held the day before the All-Star Game.

Fans voiced strong reactions online after ESPN’s Home Run Derby broadcast left many confused and disappointed with its new production format.

But that wasn't the only issue. The coverage was a turn-off from the start when ESPN used Pat McAfee to do player introductions despite him having no apparent connection to baseball or the host city, Atlanta. The network used the Derby as another venue to force its high-cost former punter personality down our throats. And bruh, who asked for this?

MLB's biggest fireworks show of the summer is taking place right now, with eight of the game's premier sluggers facing off in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, live on ESPN. One thing we do know for sure i

Fans watching the Home Run Derby were having a tough time following ESPN's split-screen broadcast, leading to many to complain on social media. The Home Run Derby broadcast is always a tough one, as the network has to balance the time between the swing and ball. Still, it seems that fans liked previous broadcast decisions better than this one.

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby stood as one of the marquee sporting events of July, but somebody apparently forgot to tell the ESPN broadcast planners.

MLB home run leader and Seattle Mariners All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh leads a stacked field of sluggers in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby.

Wingo was a part of ESPN from 1997 up until 2020, and in recent years has watched flagship shows like “Around the Horn” and “Outside the Lines” get canceled and replaced by Smith and McAfee as centerpieces of network programming.

After McAfee, who is mostly known for talking football, weirdly appeared during the 2025 Home Run Derby, former ESPN host Trey Wingo chimed in on his old employer's insistence on using McAfee and Smith everywhere possible.