Marcello Hernández traded SNL’s home base for the MLB’s actual bases on Monday night, taking the mic at the 2024 Home Run Derby.
The Saturday Night Live cast member served as an emcee to introduce the eight participants squaring off in the competition.
Donning an MLB All-Star Game jacket, the comedian hyped up the crowd from a towering stage just behind second base at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Of course, he threw in a few jokes for good measure.
“He loves home runs and leave-in conditioner,” Hernández said of wavy-haired Philadelphia Phillies player Alec Bohm.
“Your next competitor is known as the ‘Polar Bear,’” he continued when the New York Mets’ Pete Alonso stepped out onto the field. “Because he’s as strong as a bear, and also because he’s a big white guy.”
Hernández’s appearance continues a partnership with Major League Baseball that he kicked off earlier this year. Hernández appeared in an ad spot for the MLB back in May—part of a season-long ad campaign highlighting Latine culture in baseball.
Hernández joined the SNL cast in 2022. In his second episode on the show, the Cuban-Dominican comedian appeared as himself on “Weekend Update” to deliver a bit celebrating the MLB Playoffs and baseball’s Latine players. Last season, he regularly outpaced his fellow featured players in weekly screen time. He’s poised to be named part of SNL’s repertory cast this September.
Earlier this year, Hernández was enlisted by NBCUniversal subsidiary Telemundo to appear at an upfront event for the Spanish-language network, in another sign of his growing popularity.
The 2024 Home Run Derby’s title sponsor is T-Mobile, which also recently renewed its commitment to Saturday Night Live as a key sponsor for the show’s upcoming 50th anniversary season.
