Home Run Derby 2015: Top Potential Matchups to Watch in Bracket Format

The 2015 MLB Home Run Derby will feature a few twists compared to years past, but the change in format could lead to some exciting head-to-head battles.

Instead of simply allowing the top hitters at the end of each round to advance, each player will participate in a one-on-one matchup and advance in bracket form. The eight players will start in a quarterfinal and continue until one wins in the final.

Here is a look at the bracket to start the exciting event:

Each player's turn at the plate will be based on time instead of "outs," with the hitters getting chances for bonus time based on home run distance. A full explanation of the rules is available courtesy of Joey Nowak of MLB.com.

Even if you don't have a specific player to root for, the bracket could allow for some intriguing battles from start to finish. Here are the potential final-round battles that would be the most exciting for fans.

Kris Bryant vs. Anthony Rizzo

Andrew Nelles/Associated Press

Fans of the Chicago Cubs are excited about the future thanks to a run of talented young hitters, starting with 23-year-old Kris Bryant and 25-year-old Anthony Rizzo. The two corner infielders are already producing at a high rate and are still getting better, which is scary for the rest of the National League.

It wouldn't be surprising to see the duo anchor the middle of the Cubs batting order for many years to come.

Seeing them battle and succeed at the Home Run Derby would seemingly be as good as it gets for the youth movement in Chicago. However, one person who isn't all that excited about this is manager Joe Maddon, who didn't even want his players competing in the event. According to Carrie Muskat of MLB.com, the veteran manager recently explained:

"

Obviously, it's turned into a spectacle, and I get all that. I would be concerned about a guy who has something going on [in terms of injuries], that he doesn't aggravate anything.  

You'd probably always prefer that they don't [participate]. I'm not going to tell them not to. They're big boys.

"

Besides injuries, there have been past cases, such as David Wright and Bobby Abreu, where the Home Run Derby negatively affected a player's swing. Having your two best hitters in this type of competition could be scary.

On the other hand, this would be a chance for two young All-Stars to truly become household names. It would also be fun to maybe see some trash-talking between friends leading up to the finals.

Manny Machado vs. Josh Donaldson

GAIL BURTON/Associated Press

When trying to figure out the best third baseman in baseball, it's hard not to start with these two men.

Defensively, they are two of the best to play the hot corner in a long time. Donaldson showed off incredible range this season:

Meanwhile, Machado has one of the top arms in the game, as seen in this play from 2014:

"

Manny Machado's arm  | https://t.co/6ZRzp30hM2

— Six Second Sports™ (@SixSecSports) August 12, 2014"

It's almost a shame we can't see this duo battle in some sort of defensive contest.

Of course both players can hit the ball as well, both for power and average. Machado is in the midst of his best season in the majors, which is fitting because he is just entering his prime. It seems like the phenom has been around forever, but at 23 years old, he is actually several months younger than rookies Joc Pederson and Bryant.

Donaldson was comparatively a late bloomer, though he is coming off two great years with the Oakland Athletics before getting a fresh start with the Toronto Blue Jays. Now he is a major part of the best offense in baseball.

A final between these two players wouldn't end the debate over which is better, but at least it would provide a nice show.

Albert Pujols vs. Prince Fielder

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Young players are taking over baseball. It seems every top player around the league is 25 or younger, and the new generation of Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and others is eventually going to be the standard in the majors.

However, veterans Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder are not going away quietly, as they have had impressive resurgences this season.

The 35-year-old Pujols is among the league leaders in home runs and is likely to blow away his previous high of 30 long balls in his four years with the Los Angeles Angels. He is starting to resemble the player he was with the St. Louis Cardinals when he won three MVP awards.

Meanwhile, Fielder has completely adjusted his game and is hitting for a better average than he has at any point in his career. Although the homers are down, ESPN's Karl Ravech reminded people that they shouldn't count him out:

Fielder has won this event twice (2009, 2012) and is as good of a bet as anyone in the field. If the two match up in the finals, it will certainly be memorable.

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