Baseball Changes Home Run Derby Format

NEW YORK (AP) - Major league baseball is going international for its Home Run Derby on All-Star weekend.<br> <br> Instead of having four players from each league, the commissioner&#39;s office said Friday it will have eight players represent their native countries at the July 11 event. Major league baseball plans to formally launch plans that day for its first World Baseball Classic, a 16-team event during spring training next year.<br> <br> This year&#39;s Home Run Derby is at Detroit&#39;s pitcher-friendly Comerica Park, where the All-Star game will be played the following night.<br> <br> The top four players in the first round advance to the semifinals, and the top two in the semis move on to the final.<br> <br> © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.<br>