The MLB Home Run Derby, usually one of the highlights of the season, was dampened due to rain Monday night.
ESPN earned a 3.9 overnight for the Home Run Derby, according to Sports Business Daily — down 22% from last year (5.0) and down 17% from 2012 (4.7). This year’s event did not begin until 9 PM ET due to rain and finished at around midnight.
The 3.9 overnight is the lowest in recent memory for the Home Run Derby and could translate into its lowest final rating in at least 17 years. The current mark is a 3.5 for the 2003 event.
With that said, Monday’s event earned the top non-World Cup sports overnight in nearly a month — since Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 15. The telecast even topped the final round of the U.S. Open on NBC, which earned a 3.3 that same day.
(Mon. overnight from Sports Business Daily)
