Pat McAfee is bringing his show to Atlanta for Monday’s Home Run Derby, giving ESPN another chance to showcase it’s biggest personality outside of Stephen A. Smith at a premier baseball event.
“The Pat McAfee Show” will broadcast live from the Coca-Cola Roxy, right next to Truist Park, ahead of the Derby. It’s the latest road show for McAfee, who’s become ESPN’s go-to star for major events across multiple sports.
Front Office Sports first reported the news on July 7. The decision makes sense – McAfee’s show has consistently delivered for ESPN when they’ve taken it on the road.
“Breaking news,” McAfee said during a recent episode. “We will be live from, I believe it’s called the Roxy Theater, which is connected to Truist Park down there in Atlanta, Monday, the day of the Home Run Derby. Shout-out to the MLB for inviting us.”
We will be LIVE from the Home Run Derby
SHAHTAHT @MLB #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/zIjjds0KHX
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 3, 2025
McAfee’s clearly excited about the Derby itself, calling it “the most electrifying sporting event, year in, year out.” That’s typical McAfee – he brings genuine enthusiasm that translates well to viewers.
“Every year, there’s something magical that comes out of it,” he added.
Part of Bigger ESPN Coverage Push
The McAfee broadcast is just one piece of ESPN’s Home Run Derby coverage strategy. They’re also doing a Georgia stop for their SportsCenter “50 States in 50 Days” series, plus a pre-Derby “Baseball Tonight” episode and bringing back the alternate Statcast production on ESPN2.
McAfee’s show has become ESPN’s traveling roadshow for big events. They’ve taken it to the NBA Finals in June, the NFL Draft in Green Bay, and even Week 0 college football in Ireland last season. Each time, it’s delivered solid viewership numbers.
What makes this different is the timing. ESPN’s relationship with MLB remains uncertain heading into 2026. Earlier this year, reports suggested ESPN was leaning toward walking away from MLB rights after 2025, but Front Office Sports recently reported that talks between the league and network have resumed.
Bringing McAfee to Atlanta feels like ESPN showing they’re still invested in baseball content, even if the future remains unclear.
How to Watch
- Time: 12-2 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN
- Live stream: YouTube | ESPN+ | Fubo
The show follows it’s usual distribution model – ESPN for TV viewers, with streaming options on YouTube, ESPN+, and Fubo. The two-hour window gives McAfee’s crew plenty of time to build momentum before the Derby itself.
From where I’m sitting, this looks like a smart play for both sides. McAfee gets another high-profile platform, and ESPN continues testing how their biggest personality performs in different sports contexts. With baseball’s future on the network still up in the air, they might as well see what kind of buzz McAfee can generate around the sport’s most exciting annual event.
