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HomeSportsHome Run Derby 2025: Participants, rules, and prediction for winner

Home Run Derby 2025: Participants, rules, and prediction for winner

The best show in sports is back for another year.

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby is tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, and while the established sluggers we know might not be participating, there’s a whole lot of power in this lineup. There are breakout stars, young guys ready to make the push into superstardom, and quite possibly the best switch-hitting season power wise that we’ve ever seen. Eight hitters enter, one leaves as the 2025 Home Run Derby king.

Home Run Derby rules and format, explained

So how this is going to work is pretty simple. There are three rounds, with every round eliminating a group of players. In the first round, each batter has three minutes or 40 pitches (whichever comes first) to hit as many homers as they can. After their time is up or they run out of those 40 pitches, there’s a bonus round where they have three outs to hit as many home runs as possible. If a ball they swing at doesn’t leave the yard, it’s an out. Their round is over when they reach three outs. However, if a player hits a home run of 425 feet or more during the bonus round, they get another out.

That’ll eliminate half of the group, with the top four hitters advancing to the semis. Once there, the group gets ordered by the amount of homers they hit in the first round, from first to fourth. The top seed will face the fourth, and then the second will face the third. In the second and final rounds, each hitter will have two minutes and 27 pitches to hit as many home runs as they can. If there’s a tie, we get a 60 second swing off, with each player getting a minute to go yard as many times as possible. If there’s still a tie after that, there’s another swing off, with each player getting three swings to go long.

Now that we’ve established the rules, let’s meet the participants.

Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

The Big Dumper comes marching into the All-Star break leading the MLB in home runs with 38. Raleigh’s 38 home runs are the most in American League history before the All-Star break, truly an incredible season for the Mariners’ catcher. Raleigh also has the chance to make history, as the first switch hitter and first catcher to win the Home Run Derby. He’s got the highest odds to win and defy the odds, however.

James Wood, Washington Nationals

Wood has been a revelation for the Nationals this season, hitting 24 homers at the break and was named to his first career All-Star game this year. His youth might work against him in this scenario, but consider this: the last Washington National to win the Home Run Derby was Juan Soto…at 23 years old. Wood, 24, can continue the trend of young Nationals sluggers winning the Derby.

Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins

Byron Buxton might not be the home team favorite, but he’s certainly got the home state juice behind him. Buxton is from Baxley, GA, three hours south of Atlanta, but he’s bound to have a big crowd there behind him. At last season’s Home Run Derby, Texas kid Bobby Witt Jr rode the hometown crowd to a second place finish in the Derby. Buxton looks to get even further.

Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates

Cruz is a trendy pick to win the whole thing, simply because he hits the ball so freakin hard. Cruz has the hardest hit home run Statcast has ever tracked, a 122.9 mph laser this season against the Milwaukee Brewers. Cruz leads the MLB this season in average and maximum exit velocity and has the stamina to be considered the favorite in this group. If you’re looking for someone to hit the longest homer this derby, bet on Cruz.

Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

The youngest participant in the derby, Caminero was a replacement at the last minute, but has a worthy case for being here. His 23 home runs are tied for tenth in the MLB and he has the bat speed to get through the zone and carry the ball. If there’s any darkhorse to take a chance on to win this entire thing, it’s Caminero.

Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics

Rooker is an interesting name on this list. He’s got 20 home runs, but is a big sleeper in this group. Rooker is extremely steady with the bat, consistent over the last three season for the A’s and is on pace for this third straight 30+ homer season. While he might not get the acclaim that other guys get on this list, he’s a sleeper worth keeping an eye on.

Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York Yankees

Chisholm Jr. enters the Home Run Derby with 17 home runs, but there’s nobody that wants this moment more than this New York Yankee. Chisholm Jr. lives for the big moments, coming up huge for the Yankees since coming off the injury list. He’s the first Yankee in the derby since 2017, and is looking to be the fifth Yankee to win the whole thing. He was the final participant added, but if you’re looking for a show, Chisholm Jr. will give you one.

Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves

Olson replaces Ronald Acuña Jr. in the home team hero spot, but he’s got as good of a chance as anyone in this derby. His home run numbers have been down this season (as have the Atlanta Braves in general), but he knows the park and he’s got power to both left and right field. The last time a slugger won on their home turf was Bryce Harper back in 2018, so if Olson wins he has a chance to make more history.

Prediction

Give me Oneil Cruz to win the derby. I gave serious thought to Cal Raleigh and Matt Olson, but Cruz has the youth, power and absurd exit velocity to hit some monster shots in this derby.

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