# hit by pitch in a home run derby? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 10, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811 "2012-07-10T17:46:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811/1 "2012-07-10T17:46:47Z")
Be warned - this is a silly question born of idle curiosity. I was offhandedly watching the MLB [Home Run Derby](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Run_Derby) on TV last night, and I noticed a batter taking several pitches in a row while crowding the plate a bit. This made me wonder, has anyone ever been hit by a pitch in one of these events? I realize that the pitchers are doing their best to lob fat, hittable balls over the middle of the plate, but it wouldn’t be impossible for one to sail wild and clip the batter. This isn’t the sort of thing noted in official stats, but I’d imagine people would remember since it would be awfully embarrassing for the pitcher. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811/2 "2012-07-10T17:49:03Z")
A batter getting beaned and then taking his base, even as a joke, would be _by far_ the best thing ever to happen in a Home Run Derby. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811/3 "2012-07-10T17:53:45Z")
It would be more embarrassing for the hitter. Ray Charles could dodge those things. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811/4 "2012-07-10T19:31:20Z")
Jose Bautista wanted to be pitched inside and at one point I thought the pitcher was going to hit him, but it didn’t happen. It’s worth noting here that you don’t see major league pitchers throwing to these guys. It’s mostly minor-league coaches and guys like that (and Robinson Cano’s dad) who throw a ton of batting practice. I imagine they don’t hit guys very often. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811/5 "2012-07-10T19:35:35Z")
Don’t know the current rules, but they used to pick their own pitchers. These guys were supposed to be throwing meatballs over the plate. I don’t know who’s lamer in this circumstance, the batter who got hit, or the pitcher. Either way, it’s not a home run. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811/6 "2012-07-10T22:38:05Z")
> [@Tanbarkie](#): > > A batter getting beaned and then taking his base, even as a joke, would be _by far_ the best thing ever to happen in a Home Run Derby. Better yet, the batter charging the mound and pummeling the pitcher would get some juice into that snoozefest. I might even tune into it then. That goes for the game, too. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811/7 "2012-07-10T23:10:08Z")
I’d like them to park an umpire back there and have him call strikes, which count as outs. Would definitely speed up the game. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811/8 "2012-07-10T23:26:31Z")
> [@Esox\_Lucius](#): > > Better yet, the batter charging the mound and pummeling the pitcher would get some juice into that snoozefest. I might even tune into it then. That goes for the game, too. Seemed like there was a chance for that last night. Jose Bautista is not the smile-iest guy in the best of times, but there were moments in Rounds 2-3 where he looked genuinely pissed at his pitcher. But yeah, you’re right. That would be better than the batter just taking his base. Clear the benches! Back Back Back Back BackBackBackBackBack (goes Bautista’s fist before it flies forward into the pitcher’s face)! ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hit-by-pitch-in-a-home-run-derby/627811/9 "2012-07-11T00:25:14Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I’d like them to park an umpire back there and have him call strikes, which count as outs. Would definitely speed up the game. It may have only been on the old b&w show, but I thought strikes did count at one time.