As is the case annually, the Monday before the All-Star Game -- known simply as All-Star Monday -- will feature the main event that is the Home Run Derby, starting at 8 p.m. ET. The contestants for the event were revealed Wednesday night and here they are:

Kris Bryant, Cubs
Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
Prince Fielder, Rangers
Todd Frazier, Reds
Manny Machado, Orioles
Joc Pederson, Dodgers
Albert Pujols, Angels
Anthony Rizzo, Cubs

The format for this year has changed. It's now an eight-man, single-elimination, head-to-head tournament. So it's possible that a player in the first round ends up with the second-highest total and is still eliminated. The contestants were seeded based upon season home run totals through Tuesday. Here's the bracket:

Also, the Derby will be on a clock. Each hitter has five minutes to hit as many homers as he can with the ability to earn up to 90 more seconds of bonus time based upon distance of home runs (for a more extensive explanation of the rules changes, we're already covered them here). This new format does seem like it'll shorten the event and length has been the primary complaint.

As for the contestants, there's a lot of fun here.

Bryant and Rizzo being teammates from the up-and-coming Cubs not too far away from Chicago is a nice touch. The last time a Cub was in the event was 2004 (Sammy Sosa) and there have never been two Cubs in it.

Pederson is a fellow rookie of Bryant's and again points to the exciting youth movement in baseball on display for the national audience. In fact, Pederson and Bryant make the second ever rookie duo in the Derby, and it's the first time there has been a rookie since 1993. Previous rookies: Wally Joyner ('86), Jose Canseco ('86), Mark McGwire ('87) and Mike Piazza ('93).

Speaking of which, Machado is still only 23 years old and homered again Wednesday, giving him 19 on the season and 13 in his last 37 games.

Frazier will be the hometown hero and cheered loudly throughout the night. The best story here would obviously be Frazier winning in front of the Cincinnati fans. He's as strong as anyone and is familiar with the ballpark, so he'd be a good prediction. He made the finals last season.

Donaldson went from a bad snub two years ago to an All-Star last season and now the leading AL vote-getter as his star continues to rise. He puts on shows in batting practice, too. This is his second straight Derby, as he hit just three homers last year and didn't advance.

Fielder is a two-time winner. If he took the crown again, he would tie Ken Griffey Jr. for the most wins ever at three. It's also his sixth Derby. Only Griffey and McGwire participated in more than six.

Pujols has been in the event three times before, but never won it. He lost in the finals to Garret Anderson in 2003.

Albert Pujols is back in the Home Run Derby.
Albert Pujols is back in the Home Run Derby. (USATSI)