Bleacher Report's Dream 2015 Home Run Derby Contestants

Major League Baseball took a serious swing at improving the Home Run Derby, releasing a revised set of rules Sunday. 

The biggest change is the introduction of a clock. In the past, hitters kept hacking until they made a certain number of "outs" or non-home runs. Now, they'll have five minutes to bake as many taters as possible, though they'll be able to stop the clock with home runs hit in the final minute.

MLB will also trim the number of participants from 10 to eight, and it'll sort them into a single-elimination bracket, with seeding based on players' home run totals as of July 7.

That's all fine and dandy. But the event is only as strong as the sluggers who participate. And every year, inevitably, a few top bashers bow out.

But what if we could snap our fingers and anoint the hitters—four from the American League, four from the National League—who will take aim at the fences at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park on July 13? Which long-ball launchers, in a perfect world, would tantalize us most?

For our purposes, we'll stick to hitters who are eligible and able. So no Joey Gallo (optioned to Triple-A by the Texas Rangers) or Giancarlo Stanton (sidelined with a broken hamate bone). If you're healthy and on a big league roster, however, you're fair game.

In compiling this list, we'll use stats, including figures from ESPN's Home Run Tracker. But this isn't simply a ranking of the eight guys with the most or longest home runs. We'll also consider star wattage, personality and other intangibles, including hometown appeal (see: Frazier, Todd). 

This is, after all, a show first and foremost—a video game come to life. And if we held the controller, this is how it would play out.

Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers

Jonathan Moore/Getty Images

Home Runs (as of July 1): 20

Average "True Distance" (per ESPN's Home Run Tracker): 430.5 feet

See if this sounds familiar: A Los Angeles Dodgers outfield phenom clubs his way into the Home Run Derby, only to come up empty.

We're talking, of course, about Yasiel Puig, who failed to hit a single home run in last year's contest despite sky-high expectations.

Here's betting Joc Pederson fares better, if he gets the opportunity. 

Exhibit A: The swing-from-the-heels Dodgers rookie owns the top average "true distance" in baseball, meaning he'd benefit from the rule change that awards extra time for extra-long home runs.

Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Home Runs (as of July 1): 15

Average "True Distance" (per ESPN's Home Run Tracker): 410.3 feet

Miguel Cabrera has participated in the Derby twice: in 2006 while a member of the then-Florida Marlins and in 2010 with the Tigers. Both times, he was eliminated in the second round.

On June 27, in response to a fan's tweet, Miggy indicated he'd be open to a return. 

It may seem unnecessary for a guy who's already won a couple of MVPs and a Triple Crown, but boy would it be fun to watch arguably the best hitter of his generation tee it up again.

Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Home Runs (as of June 30): 25

Average "True Distance" (per ESPN's Home Run Tracker): 398.4 feet

With Stanton sidelined, Todd Frazier becomes MLB's active home run leader.

His bombs haven't traveled nearly as far as the Miami Marlins masher, who owns an average true distance of 417.6 feet and has clubbed four of the six longest home runs this season (did we mention we wish Stanton was in this thing?).

Still, the Reds third baseman finished second in last year's Derby. And, most importantly, he'd be flexing his muscles in front of a hometown crowd.

"It's in a good park for home runs and I'll be ready," Frazier said, per MLB.com's Paul Casella. 

Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Home Runs (as of June 30): 19

Average "True Distance" (per ESPN's Home Run Tracker): 404.1 feet

Nelson Cruz has taken himself out of the Derby running, per Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times:

"

I would love to do it. But at the same time, I have to think about my teammates and my team. If I go there, it can wear me out for two or three days after. And that's not fair to my teammates, and it's not fair for my team. That’s just the way it is.

"

After a scalding start, Cruz's power has dried up; he's hit just one home run in his last 29 games. So his hesitation is understandable.

Still, it's tempting to see what the reigning AL home run champ—the guy who hit six home runs over a five-game stretch in April—would do.

Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Home Runs (as of June 30): 20

Average "True Distance" (per ESPN's Home Run Tracker): 405.6 feet

Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer recently made the case that Paul Goldschmidt is the best hitter in the game. 

That's about more than home runs, of course. Goldschmidt also paces baseball with a .354 batting average and .469 OBP. Heck, he's even swiped 15 bases.

But man can he hit dingers. 

The Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman is fifth in the NL in long balls. Here's a sample to whet your appetite.

Unfortunately, Goldschmidt doesn't sound too keen on joining the party. 

"I don't think I'd be that good at it," he said with a dollop of head-scratching humility, per AZcentral.com's Scott Bordow. "I know I've hit some homers in the games, but anyone who's watched me take batting practice knows I'm not just sitting there turning and burning trying to hit home runs."

Imagine if he did.

Yoenis Cespedes, Detroit Tigers

Joe Scarnici/Getty Images

Home Runs (as of June 30): 10

Average "True Distance" (per ESPN's Home Run Tracker): 403.9 feet

This one is obligatory, since Yoenis Cespedes has won the last two Derbies and deserves a chance to defend his crown.

But the Cuban slugger is more than merely a legacy pick. He's one of the best pure power hitters in the game. He's also not sure he'll join the fray unless he's on the AL All-Star squad.

"It's much better when you make the All-Star team than just participating in the Home Run Derby," Cespedes said, per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. "The overall experience is better when you are part of the team." 

Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Home Runs (as of June 30): 24

Average "True Distance" (per ESPN's Home Run Tracker): 400.6 feet

Bryce Harper and the Home Run Derby should be synonymous. The brash, big-swinging Washington Nationals slugger was built for this sort of competition.

But he might bow out, per James Wagner of the Washington Post, because of his dad's bum shoulder.

Harper's father, who pitched to him in the 2013 Derby, had rotator cuff surgery and won't be able to toss to his son this year.

"We'll see," Harper told Wagner June 8. "I'm either gonna do it or I'm not. It's not ruled out, but am I comfortable doing it without him? Not really." 

With Stanton—the NL's other monster masher—already shelved, here's hoping the elder Harper makes a miracle recovery. 

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Home Runs (as of June 30): 20

Average "True Distance" (per ESPN's Home Run Tracker): 408.7 feet

To illustrate the folly of the new single-elimination bracket system, Yahoo Sports' Chris Cwik painted the following hypothetical:

"

Let's say, for example, Bryce Harper takes on Mike Trout in the first round. Harper hits 13 bombs, while Trout hits 11. In the old format, we would wait around to see whether three other players could top Trout and prevent him from advancing. There was at least some suspense involved. 

In the new format, Trout gets eliminated immediately. This is a problem, particularly because a guy like Trout should be allowed to stick around as long as humanly possible. 

"

It's a salient point, but we're still drooling over that potential Trout/Harper showdown. Because, not sure if you've heard, Trout crushes baseballs. He murders them with malice aforethought.

And, quibbles over the rules aside, that's what the Derby is all about.