Durham, N.C. — A unique, 3-on-3 baseball event is coming to Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Durham Bulls will host Home Run Derby X on Saturday, Sept. 7.

“It’s kind of like Savannah Bananas meets Nitro Circus,” Durham Bulls general manager Tyler Parsons said on Tuesday.

Home Run Derby X, described as “home run derby with defense” pits co-ed teams of three in a game in which each player gets one at bat of two-and-a-half minutes. The batter tries to get as many homers as possible during that time, while the opposing team is in the outfield trying to make catches. Putting in a a bid to host was an easy decision for the organization.

“Anytime we have an opportunity to bring our community together for an event, especially one that matches what we try to do with the Durham Bulls here, where it is family friendly, it is exciting.

Points are scored for each home run and each defensive catch, and the team that finishes with the most points wins.

The players are former MLB, women’s baseball and softball players. When Home Run Derby X comes to the DBAP, Bulls (and Atlanta Braves) legend Andruw Jones will be joined by MLB stars Nick Swisher and Jonny Gomes and softball and women’s baseball players Skylar Wallace, Amanda Lorenz, Tiare Jennings and Ashton Lansdell. Additional players for the Durham event will be named later.

“I still love to have fun,” said Jones on Tuesday. “I don’t know if I’m going to go out there and make a diving catch or something because if I lay down on the ground, I’m not going to get up.”

Both Jones and Gomes played for the Durham Bulls on their way to being household names in the majors. Gomes said having an opportunity like this is a full circle moment.

“See all the new buildings, see the growth of the city,” Gomes said. “I’ll hold this stop a little closer to my heart, you know, because that’s where I competed and that’s where it all started.”

Source: wralsportsfan.com