
via Imago
Credit: IMAGO / Imagn Images

via Imago
Credit: IMAGO / Imagn Images
Every summer, MLB gathers its loudest bats and dares them to turn batting practice into theater. This isn’t about advancing runners or situational hitting—it’s about towering blasts that test the limits of physics and patience. Somewhere between a circus act and a slugger’s summit, the Home Run Derby returns once again to remind us that nothing draws a crowd like unapologetic, brute-force spectacle in uniform.
But don’t be fooled by the smiles and sunflower seeds—this is a high-stakes brawl dressed as a skills contest. Behind the custom jerseys and choreographed bat flips lies a battlefield where stamina, swing mechanics, and adrenaline all collide under the lights. With power records already rewritten in the first half of the 2025 season, this year’s derby won’t just crown a champion—it’ll settle grudges, inflate contracts, and maybe even break a few hearts beyond the outfield wall.
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What time does the Home Run Derby start?
The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby is set to ignite Truist Park in Atlanta on Monday, July 14. First pitch (or first blast) will fly at exactly 8:00 p.m. ET, airing live on ESPN and streaming platforms. This marks the Derby’s first return to Atlanta since 2000, now staged in the Braves’ suburban fortress. With eight of baseball’s brightest sluggers ready, Cobb County is bracing for a thunderstorm made of baseballs.
Truist Park, opened in 2017, is a modern ballpark with subtle quirks that reward both power and precision. Its right field measures just 325 feet, the shortest distance in the park, while center field stretches to a daunting 402 feet. Both left and right-center fields stand at 375 feet, striking a balance for hitters from both sides. While not the easiest yard to conquer, it offers just enough temptation for Derby contenders to let loose.

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MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers Jul 12, 2025 Detroit, Michigan, USA Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh 29 hits a sacrifice fly in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detroit Comerica Park Michigan USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xRickxOsentoskix 20250712_map_aa1_155
Is it a hitter’s paradise? Not exactly—but for one night, it doesn’t need to be. The Derby format favors launch angle, bat speed, and raw adrenaline over typical in-game constraints. With the roof open to the Georgia sky and muscle on full display, expect a flurry of moonshots. In a park built for drama, home runs won’t just happen—they’ll explode into legend.
So while Truist Park may not hand out home runs like candy, it won’t be stingy on spectacle. Between the geometry of the outfield and the velocity of the bats, this Derby promises calculated chaos. Because when you put eight power-hungry sluggers in a pressure cooker disguised as a ballpark, something has to give. Expect the fireworks to start at 8:00 p.m.—and for Atlanta’s sky to spend the night catching baseballs. After all, gravity is optional during the Home Run Derby.
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Will Cal Raleigh's record-breaking power make him the undisputed king of the 2025 Home Run Derby?
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Who is participating in the Home Run Derby?
The 2025 Home Run Derby is packed with power, but few enter with a louder bat than Cal Raleigh. The Mariners catcher has clobbered 38 home runs in the first half—an American League record before the break. His longest blast measured 440 feet, and he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity. A switch-hitter with launch angle precision, Raleigh’s power profile screams Derby favorite—if his stamina can hold up.
James Wood enters as the youngest phenomenon in the field, but his numbers read like a seasoned vet’s. The Nationals outfielder has already belted 24 homers, with a jaw-dropping max distance of 451 feet. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th in hard-hit rate. With raw strength and flair for the dramatic, Wood could turn the Derby into his personal coming-out party.
Junior Caminero may not lead the league in homers, but his swing speed is pure electricity. The Rays’ third baseman has mashed 23 home runs, and his longest traveled a solid 425 feet. He sits in the 100th percentile for bat speed and top-tier exit velocity rankings. With Truist Park’s short left field, his quick trigger might be the wildcard no one sees coming.
Byron Buxton enters the Derby riding a wave of momentum and some eye-popping longball metrics. The Twins’ outfielder has cracked 21 homers, including a 479-foot bomb—the second-longest in the league this season. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile, and he leads the field in “no-doubt” shots. Don’t let the age fool you—Buxton’s barrel still has plenty of bang left.
Brent Rooker might be flying under the radar, but his power resume is quietly rock solid and reliable. With 20 homers this season and a top shot of 440 feet, he’s no slouch at the plate. Rooker’s swing generates an optimal 15-degree launch angle, translating well in both real games and batting practice. He may lack flash, but his consistency could make him this year’s sneaky pick.
Matt Olson returns to the Derby as the lone participant with prior experience under the bright lights. The Braves slugger has launched 17 home runs in 2025, including a 434-foot drive that lit up right field. Though his numbers are down from his 54-homer 2023, Olson remains elite in exit velocity. Add in home-field advantage and a smooth lefty stroke—he’s not to be taken lightly.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. may not fit the typical Derby mold, but his bat says otherwise this season. He’s racked up 17 home runs, with his longest traveling 442 feet into the summer sky. He ranks in the 98th percentile in barrel rate and 96th in expected slugging. Smaller in stature but big on impact, Chisholm will have to fight fatigue to keep swinging with the big boys.

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Jul 30, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Yankees third base Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) hits a three RBI home run during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oneil Cruz brings the kind of freakish power that Statcast dreams are made of—and fans live for. The Pirates’ shortstop has hit just 16 homers, but his max shot soared 463 feet with a record-breaking 122.9 mph exit velocity. He leads all MLB hitters in average exit velocity at 96.4 mph, and his swing is pure chaos and power. Efficiency may be his hurdle, but Cruz has the rawest tools in the field.
The absence of Ronald Acuna Jr. left a star-sized hole, but Olson’s inclusion restores Atlanta’s hometown hype. Though he’s not entering with league-leading totals, his 2023 track record and crowd backing are big X-factors. If emotion fuels performance, Olson could ride the energy of Truist Park deep into the bracket. It wouldn’t be the first time a local boy stole the Derby crown under stadium lights.
Statistically speaking, Raleigh looks like the frontrunner, but numbers don’t always win under the Home Run Derby clock. Wood brings thunder and youth, Cruz brings violence, Caminero brings speed, and Olson brings the crowd. In a contest where swing rhythm and adrenaline collide, anything can happen—and usually does. So buckle in, because this field isn’t just loaded—it’s primed to blow the fences off Georgia.
Who is the defending champion of the Home Run Derby?
The defending champion of the Home Run Derby is Teoscar Hernández of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who claimed victory in 2024. During his dominant performance, Hernández slugged an astonishing 49 homers across three grueling rounds. Each swing carried thunder, solidifying his place as the Derby’s most explosive force. Fans will remember him not just for quantity, but for sheer style under pressure.
In the finals, Hernández faced off against Kansas City’s rising star Bobby Witt Jr., delivering a nail‑biting showdown. The final round ended 14-13 in favour of Hernández, highlighting his clutch power when it mattered most. While Witt Jr. launched thunderous drives, Hernández’s consistency and composure proved decisive under the lights. Their back‑and‑forth spectacle confirmed Hernández’s status as the man to beat.

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 20: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores a run on a two-run double by Tommy Edman #25 during the first inning in game six of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets at Dodger Field on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
Highlights from earlier rounds showed Hernández dispatching 19 homers in Round 1, before unleashing 16 in the semifinal against Alec Bohm. His semifinal victory came via tiebreaker after matching Bohm’s total, edging him out on bonus swings. Throughout, Hernández showcased both power and poise—qualities that make him the benchmark for 2025 participants. With those numbers etched in Derby lore, he returns to defend a hard‑earned crown.
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Home Run Derby prize money
The 2025 Home Run Derby is boasting a fat $2.5 million prize pool, a figure MLB introduced in 2019 and has retained ever since. This year’s champion will pocket a cool $1 million, matching the top prize from 2024. The runner‑up will still walk away with $500,000, while every other participant is guaranteed $150,000 just for showing up. Plus, there’s a $100,000 bonus for whoever smacks the longest homer of the night.
In contrast, the 2024 Derby at Globe Life Field featured the exact same payout structure—$1 million for first, $500,000 for second, and $150,000 for other competitors, along with a longest‑homer prize. The total purse of $2.5 million remained unchanged, reaffirming MLB’s commitment to rewarding sluggers regardless of rolling economic tides. There has been no decrease or increase year-over-year; the Derby’s bounty is a steady beast.
Ultimately, the financial incentives remain just as bold as the bats swinging them. With seven first‑timers and one experienced champ battling for seven‑figure glory, the stakes are sky-high. The unchanged prize money means consistency, not surprise, will define the 2025 payday. It’s clear MLB values spectacle—and knows a lot of good swings when it pays for them.
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So, as bats swing for bonus checks and balls threaten low-flying satellites, the 2025 Home Run Derby is primed for mayhem. Between the physics-defying mashers, record-shaking metrics, and a $1 million reason to hit one more, this isn’t your average All-Star warmup act. The defending champ has swagger, the newbies have muscle, and the park has just enough give to birth legends. In a contest where launch angle meets legacy, every swing matters—and every second counts. Welcome to baseball’s loudest night, where money talks and moonshots scream.
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Will Cal Raleigh's record-breaking power make him the undisputed king of the 2025 Home Run Derby?