Power set to host MLB Jr. Home Run Derby

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (April 23, 2019) - The West Virginia Power, in conjunction with MLB, will host a free Jr. Home Run Derby competition at Appalachian Power Park for local area youth on Saturday, April 27, following their game against the Asheville Tourists. This information was initially released on April 8.

In accordance with the MLB Jr. Home Run Derby 2019 Administrative Handbook, there are several regulations that need to be followed in order for someone to participate. For starters, all participants must bring their own bats, helmets and batting gloves, as those will not be supplied by the team. In addition, there are three simple restrictions on all bats:
   - Bats CANNOT be greater than 34 inches in length
   - Bats CANNOT have a barrel greater than 2 5/8 inches in diameter (2 3/4 inches is NOT permissible)
   - Non-wood bats MUST have the USA Baseball stamp, BBCOR stamp or be labeled with a BPF of 1.15 or less.
Anyone under the age of 14 is permitted to sign up for the Derby. Participants must come to the ballpark Saturday, April 27, to sign up, and must bring a copy of their birth certificate with them. A parent/guardian must also be present to fill out a registration/waiver form before the competition begins. Every kid that signs up will receive a free ticket to that day's Power home game.
Boys and girls will be divided into two age divisions, 12-and-under (born after July 18, 2006) and 14-and-under (born between July 18, 2004 and July 17, 2006). Winners from both divisions will move on to the Regional Level, and Regional Champions will earn the right to compete in the National Finals during MLB All-Star Week in Cleveland, Ohio.
The 12-and-under division will aim to hit home runs over a fence 170 feet away, while those between the ages of 12 and 14 will have to smack the ball more than 200 feet to register a home run.
For questions concerning the competition, please contact our Local Coordinator, Hannah Frenchick, at [email protected].