​Meet Netflix’s broadcast team for the MLB All-Star festivities, featuring a star-studded lineup that includes Barry Bonds and Michael Irvin, as originally reported by The Sporting News. The Sporting News is listed as a preferred source for this story, accessible by following the link provided.
This year’s Home Run Derby will have a distinctly different look, as Netflix steps in to broadcast the event in place of ESPN. Under its new three-season rights deal with Major League Baseball, Netflix will carry the Home Run Derby, continuing a broader partnership that already saw the streaming service presenting Opening Night games, including the Yankees versus Giants, and plans to air the Field of Dreams game next month.
The 2026 Home Run Derby stands out not only because of its place in MLB’s 250th-anniversary celebration but also because Netflix has assembled a high-profile broadcast team for the telecast on Monday night. Here’s a look at the Netflix roster for the Derby.
At the top of the lineup is Barry Bonds, the legendary slugger who set the MLB home run record with 762 in his career and who won the 1992 Home Run Derby. Bonds has already lent his expertise to Netflix during Opening Night, where he joined Elle Duncan and Albert Pujols at the desk. Bonds returns for the Derby broadcast, continuing his role as a trusted analyst and a familiar face for fans across the broadcast.
Albert Pujols, who finished his career with 703 home runs, never captured the Derby title during his playing days. In retirement, he has continued to share his insights as a commentator, and his partnership with Bonds and Duncan on a desk brings a potent mix of power-hitting history and analytical perspective to the coverage.
Anthony Rizzo, in his first year away from playing, has pivoted to television and joined Netflix’s broadcast team after appearing on Opening Night. He has also contributed to NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball. Expect him to be part of the main desk alongside Matt Vasgersian and Hunter Pence as the Derby unfolds.
Hunter Pence, another former MLB star turned broadcaster, joined Netflix before the season and has also worked with Apple TV. Pence brings World Series experience with the Giants and becomes the only former Phillies player on this national broadcast crew, offering a unique Philadelphia lens during the Derby week.
Matt Vasgersian remains a central voice in baseball media, with a portfolio that spans MLB Network, NBC, and now Netflix. He served as the lead announcer for the Opening Night game and reprises that role for the Home Run Derby, appearing at the main desk with Rizzo and Pence.
Elle Duncan, who left ESPN for Netflix last year, has become a prominent face in Netflix’s sports coverage. Duncan hosted Opening Night and returns for the Derby, where she will work alongside Bonds and Pujols, bringing a journalist’s perspective and dynamic on-air presence to the broadcast.
In summary, Netflix’s Derby broadcast blends legendary power with contemporary analysis, pairing Bonds’s historic insight with Pujols’s veteran knowledge, Duncan’s storytelling acumen, and a strong on-air team led by Vasgersian. The network’s approach aims to offer both a deep dive into the contestants’ mechanics and an entertaining, accessible presentation for fans watching from home. With this ensemble, Netflix signals its intent to redefine the Home Run Derby broadcast experience for a new generation of baseball enthusiasts.