Barstool After Dark: Derby Dingers Are BACK!

No one Derbys like the Barstool crew, so a year later we’re back on the diamond and ready to see the boys hit bombs into the beautiful skyline sunset of the Midwest. Barstool summer nights are the best, nothing like the boys getting together and hitting some dingers.

You may be thinking to yourself: Did they change the date of After Dark this week? Weren’t they just live the other day playing video games? Yes, the 40-plus-hour stream last week has the guys working on a short week. A little Sunday Night Football into Thursday Night Game of the Week action.

Many are clamoring about whether the short week will affect the crew tonight...time will only tell.

For tonight, the format is a little different from last year’s challenge, with it now being team-based. Still, it's all together in an attempt to once again break the record of 762 career home runs yet again. Though now not only are there the usual twists and challenges along the way, but this year there’s a reward for the team that hits the most home runs, prize provided by Gametime.

ALSO BREAKING AGAIN: The teams have also just been updated from 5v5 to 6v6 after the original teams were announced, it was quickly met online by the E-Boys army. Last year’s Derby hero Ebo was not seen in the initial team release for tonight’s roster, immediately causing a tidal wave of outrage.

You do not want the E-Boys on your ass. Yes, we’ve got the Ryders, Jerry’s Army, and others, but watch out for these boys.

Ohio’s Tate as always did the right thing and pivoted to 6v6, adding Ebo to the festivities. So let’s now look at the teams while giving them a ranking out of the 12 total.

BATTERS UP

Team Hank: Hank, T-Bob, Chief, White Sox Dave, Mook, & Ebo

Scouting Report: This team may have been the biggest winners of the Ebo addition. The roster beforehand may have lacked the overall star power to stick with Team Max.

Now, don’t get me wrong, WSD, Mook, and Hank have baseball pedigree and were very solid last year in this derby. Still, they’ll need the youth and pop from Ebo to stay in the race. But let’s not forget: Hot Mook is a different man this year, slimmer, stronger, and ready to show off his newfound athleticism.

Overall, this team goes as Ebo goes. If he’s on his game tonight, this team may have enough to bring home the dub. The pressure is on. Will Ebo answer the bell?

Team Max: Max, Big Cat, Tate, Dana, Katic, & Memes

Scouting Report: MAX MAX MAX! Very similar to Team Hank needing Ebo, Team Max needs Max to show out, though he has the added pressure of the "C" on his chest.

After Max, we know Big Cat and Tate will bring the energy and won’t be fazed by the opposing squad. They might even channel their inner ninja assassins to get in the heads of the other team.

The issue? The unknowns. Three newcomers to the Derby scene: Dana Beers, Memes, and Katic. We all know Katic is a college athlete, but his head could be elsewhere if the chat starts chirping. Not confirmed, but there are rumblings he’s still rattled after yesterday’s NaduFlew debacle an possible ryders on his ass. If true, that could throw Katic off his game, which would hurt Team Max.

As a whole, Max is the leader, but the big question is: where does the help come from, and how much of it does he need?

We can’t forget: it’s still a group effort to get to 762 HRs. So who’s going to lead the way, and who might bring the boys down swinging into the night?

Here it is: what you’ve all been waiting for...

Barstool After Dark DEBRY DINGER Rankings:

1. Max

2. Ebo

3. Hank

4. WSD

5. Katic

6. Big Cat

7. Mook

8. Dana

9. Tate

10. Chief

11. Memes

12. T-Bob (he sounded very unsure of himself on Mostly Sports today)

The list is very top-heavy, with little debate about the top 3 bombers. After that, there’s a clear drop-off from 3 to 4, and again from 7 to 8. WSD to Mook (spots 4–7) are wild cards, they could pop off or totally disappear from the home run count.

As for the bottom dwellers (8–12), they’re here for a combo of reasons: lack of tape, shaky confidence, or, in Tate’s case, a bigger job of keeping the chat in check and the team focused, rather than just hitting dingers. Power rankings can always shift, but going into tonight, it’s hard to argue them any other way.

Okay, now the elephant in the room. If you tuned in last year, you know exactly who...or what...I’m talking about. That’s right: Connor Griffin makes his infamous return to the home run derby booth tonight, despite his actions a year ago that many now refer to as Legotits.

This year he’ll be joined by PFT and Eddie, replacing Nick & KB. This could be huge for Connor, we know the antics those two bring to the booth, and now the new crew might be able to keep bad boy in check tonight. Here’s to hoping we don’t get any scandals on tonight’s broadcast.

(And if you don’t know the “Legotits” incident... it’s must-watch Barstool history. Go find it.)

OH NO!!! As this is being written, we’ve got team BEEF! Hank and Max are bickering about the rosters and now a draft is being floated. So the scouting reports might be completely shot already. Of course, it wouldn’t be Barstool After Dark without chaos and last-minute drama.

Still, no matter how the teams shake out, the power rankings stand, and in the end, everyone’s swinging for 762 tonight. Through the challenges, the chat, and the curveballs, they’re all in this together.

It all kicks off tonight at 5pm EST / 4pm CT. BE THERE!