MLB Home Run Derby 2015: New Format Breakdown and Bracket for Monday

The Home Run Derby needed some shaking up after decades of a similar 10-outs-per-batter format, and that's just what has graced the 2015 event as it gears up for Monday night's showcase in Cincinnati.

The MLB announced sweeping new changes to the format, which has ditched the traditional setup for five-minute rounds for each batter. Every participant gets a running clock of five minutes to hit as many home runs as they possibly can, needing more than their head-to-head opponent to advance past each of the three rounds.

Of course, it's not that straightforward. There are bonus times rewarded for deep home runs, including 30 seconds extra for a 475-foot home run and one minute for two bombs that surpass 420 feet.

With eight of baseball's most powerful hitters about to step up to the plate at Great American Ball Park, excitement should be at a premium. Now that we've broken down the new format, let's take a look at the bracket for Monday's spectacle.

2015 Home Run Derby Bracket

MLB Communications provided a bracket graphic below:

Top Contenders

Albert Pujols

John Froschauer/Associated Press

A slugger of Albert Pujols' caliber could get into the Home Run Derby field based on career accolades alone, but the Los Angeles Angels batter has much more than that going for him as he enters his fourth career Derby.

With his 26th home run of the season just before the halfway point, he is tied with fellow Angels slugger Mike Trout for the AL lead in homers. It also has pushed him closer to 15th place in the all-time rankings, as ESPN Stats & Info noted:

Pujols has never won a Derby in three career tries, but he may have his best chance yet in Monday night's event. He faces Cubs rookie Kris Bryant in the first round, before a potential second-round matchup with either Joc Pederson or Manny Machado.

Joc Pederson

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

With Yasiel Puig sidelined for a lot of the season thus far, the onus of batting has been put squarely on Joc Pederson's shoulders. He's thriving with the pressure on him.

He's hitting just .230 on the season but has an impressive 20 home runs and 40 RBI to go along with it. The second-year major leaguer, who played just 18 games last season, is emerging as a star right before the baseball public's eyes.

Along with a spot in the Home Run Derby, Pederson's getting a nod in the actual All-Star Game as well, due to injury as Fox Sports' Jon Morosi noted:

As crazy as it seems, there might not be another batter in the field of this year's Home Run Derby with more absolute power than Pederson. That could prove to be a big advantage, as he might be able to get himself some extra time on the clock to jack home runs.

Kris Bryant

DAVID BANKS/Associated Press

He may have the fewest home runs among the field with just 12 for his season and his career, but Chicago Cubs rookie Kris Bryant does have a decent excuse.

A contract fiasco put the Cubs in a position where Bryant started the season in the minor leagues, but it wasn't long until his prospect status and prowess made its way into the cleanup spot of the Cubs lineup. He's dazzled in response, showcasing his ability with multi-home run games as he did recently, per MLB.com's Cut4:

While it's surprising that Bryant has proven himself in this short of a time frame, he's not the only promising young Cubs player in the All-Star Game—or even in the Home Run Derby. Anthony Rizzo also joins Bryant in the Derby field, although the two wouldn't potentially face off until the final round.

It could be a magical final round for the future of the Chicago Cubs should Bryant and Rizzo both advance.