Swisher pumped to rep Yanks in Home Run Derby X

TAMPA, Fla. -- The tagline for Home Run Derby X, an electrifying new competition that will take Major League Baseball on a global tour, is “Bring the Noise.”

Challenge accepted, says Nick Swisher, one of four former big league sluggers swinging for the fences in London, Seoul and Mexico City this summer.

“As soon as they said Home Run Derby, I said, ‘Bro, I’m in!’” said Swisher, who will represent the Yankees. “To have the opportunity and help grow this game globally, that’s an honor for me. I take this stuff serious. I’m going to do my best to grow the next era of this game, and try to get some younger folks watching our game. It’s going to be absolutely amazing.”

Inspired by the success and simplicity of the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game, MLB hopes Home Run Derby X will attract a new audience to baseball by creating high-energy live event experiences and opportunities for digital storytelling.

Home Run Derby X will be played on a reduced version of a baseball field, with home plate mounted on a stage and the pitcher’s mound on a podium. Home Run Derby X will also feature live music, baseball-inspired activities, ballpark food, fashion, gaming and more.

“I think I’m really excited for the mix-and-match festival baseball action,” Swisher said. “I’m also excited to meet a lot of people that I’ve never met before; get to learn different cultures and see how things work. I’m going to soak it up.”

The teams competing will represent four historic franchises: the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs and Dodgers.

Each team will have competitors from four categories: MLB Legend, Superstar (talent from softball and women’s baseball), Rookie (talent from men’s baseball development system) and Wild Card (influential content creators).

Other competing Legends include Jonny Gomes (Red Sox), Geovany Soto (Cubs) and Adrián González (Dodgers). Swisher, who retired in 2016 and hit 245 homers over his 12-year big league career, said that he will begin workouts in May.

The first event will be held on July 9 at London’s Crystal Palace Park. The teams are scheduled to play on Sept. 17 in Seoul and Oct. 15 in Mexico City (venues to be announced).

“I’ve got to get in the gym, bro,” Swisher said. “I’ve got to get ready!”

The Yankees’ roster features Swisher along with former Olympic softball players Erika Piancastelli and Stefania Aradillas (Mexico only), plus Wild Card player Daniel Corral, an Olympic gymnast who won a Silver Medal in 2012.

Points are available for both offense and defense, with each batter receiving one at-bat of 25 pitches, while two opponents patrol the outfield. Home runs are worth one point, as are catches. There are also additional ways to score, inspired by video games, including Target Hits in the infield and beyond the fence.

“I’m just trying to go deep -- lift and separate, baby,” Swisher said. “I’m going to use as many metrics as I can, try and find some deficiencies. Maybe I can hit it a little further. You never know!”

For information about tickets and more, please visit http://www.mlb.com/HomeRunDerbyX.