A star-studded lineup is set to take on Atlanta as eight of baseball’s top sluggers compete in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby at Truist Park on Monday, July 14.
The Derby’s format, revamped in 2024, features eight hitters competing in the opening round, with each hitter being allowed 40 pitches over three minutes, plus a bonus period with three outs.
The top four finishers will then advance to the semifinals, which, along with the finals, will have either a two-minute or a 27-pitch limit, excluding a bonus period.
Ties are broken by the longest home run in the first round and by a swing-off in later rounds.
The event is set to air live on ESPN at 7 p.m.
Who are the eight participants?
Ronald Acuña Jr, Outfielder, Atlanta Braves
Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. headlines the field in front of his home crowd.
A former MVP and member of the exclusive 40-40 club, Acuña returns to the Derby for the third time, aiming to become just the fourth player to win the contest in his home park.
Despite having the fewest home runs among the Derby competitors this season due to recovering from a torn ACL that sidelined him for much of 2024, Acuña has demonstrated 40-home run potential since his return.
The outfielder has already put up solid numbers in his 29 games since returning from injury, hitting .324 with a 1.022 on-base-plus-slugging and 11 home runs.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., Second Baseman, New York Yankees
Entering the Derby with 17 home runs and a .876 OPS, Chisholm’s power metrics place him among the league’s elite.
Chisholm has never participated in the MLB Home Run Derby during his six-year career, but he has previously competed in the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby held in the Bahamas, per MLB.
Although Chisholm does not possess the most strength of the eight participants, he is seen as a player who can easily get hot and take home the crown, which would make him the first Yankees player to win the Derby since Aaron Judge in 2017.
Brent Rooker, Outfielder, Athletics
Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker brings a powerful bat for Oakland, currently in the midst of a potential third straight 30-homer campaign.
Rooker has already put up 19 home runs this season while batting .346 with an OPS of .840, making him one of the most productive big hitters in the league this season.
Participation in the Derby makes Rooker the first Athletics player to compete in the event since Matt Olson in 2021, with the potential to become just the third player in Athletics history to win the event.
Additionally, a derby win would tie the Athletics with the Yankees for the most wins of all time with four, according to MLB.
Junior Caminero, Third Baseman, Tampa Bay Rays
At just 22 years old, the Rays’ third baseman is the youngest participant in this year’s Derby.
Caminero is second amongst all major league third basemen with 21 home runs and is known for his exceptional bat speed and exit velocity, making him a rising star to watch.
Despite starting the season slowly, Caminero has produced a solid season in his third year in the MLB, batting .254 with an OPS of .769.
Although Caminero is not viewed as the favorite to win the Derby this year, a strong start could propel him into the final rounds of the event.
Cal Raleigh, Catcher, Seattle Mariners
Raleigh enters the Home Run Derby as one of the favorites after leading the MLB in home runs through the first portion of the season with 36.
When asked earlier in the season if he would compete in the Derby, Raleigh said he “would do that in a heartbeat,” marking an exciting opportunity for one of the most explosive batters in the league, per MLB.
Raleigh could make history during the Derby and become just the second player to ever switch hit during the event, with Adley Rutschman in 2023 currently being the only player to accomplish the feat, as stated by MLB.
James Wood, Outfielder, Washington Nationals
Nationals outfielder James Wood rounds out the lineup of emerging talents, with the second-year player producing 24 home runs while batting .275 with an OPS of .933.
Wood’s power-hitting ability has made him one of the most well-known sluggers in the MLB despite being in his second season.
The 6-foot-7 outfielder has incredible power, demonstrated during a 451-foot home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this season, and is seen as a dark horse candidate to walk away with the derby victory.
Byron Buxton, Outfielder, Minnesota Twins
Buxton enters the event after hitting a total of 20 home runs through his first 75 games of the season, retaining his role as one of the most underrated sluggers in the MLB.
The outfielder has also produced solid batting splits through the first portion of the season, currently batting .338 on the season with a slugging percentage of .482 and an OPS of .881.
Although Buxton is not considered one of the favorites to win the Derby, he could easily get hot and put up one of the top scores in the opening round.
Oneil Cruz, Shortstop, Pittsburgh Pirates
Cruz joins the lineup as one of the most intriguing participants in the event, with the veteran shortstop possessing an up-and-down career over the past five seasons.
Although he has only hit 16 home runs this season, Cruz has produced a solid OPS of .725.
The 26-year-old will become just the seventh Pirates player to participate in the event, with the potential to become the first player in franchise history to walk away with the crown, per MLB.