🎯 2025 Home Run Derby — Tonight at 8 p.m. ET, Truist Park, Atlanta (ESPN)

 

Here’s the official lineup of eight sluggers ready to launch baseballs into orbit:

• Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners, C) – MLB’s HR leader (38, most in the majors) and the first catcher/switch-hitter ever in the Derby.
• James Wood (Washington Nationals, OF) – First-Timer; 24 HR, elite exit velocity, among MLB’s top in balls over 445 ft.
• Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins, OF) – Known as “Buck”; 21 HR, high-contact power, finally healthy.
• Oneil Cruz (Pittsburgh Pirates, OF) – Statcast exit-velocity champ (122.9 mph); raw but devastating power.
• Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays, 3B) – The youngest in the field at 22, with 23 HRs and rising prospect status.
• Brent Rooker (Oakland A’s, DH) – A steady veteran with reliable power (20 HRs) and type of sleeper pick.
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. (New York Yankees, INF) – Fan favorite and first Yankee in Derby since 2017; 17 HR, showman on display.
• Matt Olson (Atlanta Braves, 1B) – Replacing Ronald Acuña Jr. due to injury; hometown favorite and terror at the plate.

 

💣 What Makes Each a Threat

• Cal Raleigh: Leads in HR. Unmatched power from the crouch. Detector of moonshots.
• James Wood: Limits & power-focused with elite metrics—capable of a historic Derby run.
• Oneil Cruz: Exit velocities off the charts—when he connects, it’s highlight reel material.
• Byron Buxton: Long overdue for a national spotlight; speed-to-power conversion in full bloom. From Georgia.
• Junior Caminero: Young and fearless—could shatter records on raw talent alone.
• Brent Rooker: The underdog—consistency could surprise in a big moment.
• Jazz Chisholm Jr.: Flashy, fun, and Yankee—will ride energy in front of a primetime audience.
• Matt Olson: The local hero, Born in Atlanta—knows the ballpark (Chop House), and brings serious power.

 

⚙️ Format & Key Storylines to Watch

• Structure:
  
• Round 1: 3 min or 40 pitches + bonus; top 4 advance.
• Semis: Seed-based brackets (1v4, 2v3).
• Finals: Shorter time (2 min/27 pitches). Two 45-sec timeouts allowed each round  .
  
• Super Bonuses: In bonus rounds, 425+ ft HRs earn extra life — distance matters.
• Tiebreakers: 60-sec swing-off, followed by 3-swing shootouts if needed  .

 

👉🏼 Key Themes:

• Raleigh chasing history as the first-ever winning catcher and switch-hitter.
• Cruz with radar-gun power vs. Wood’s consistent fireworks and massive distance.
• Buxton’s second wind—earning respect after injury, proving speed-plus-power. From GA.
• Local hero Olson bringing Braves pride with backup batting practice knowledge. Born in ATL
• Chisholm Jr. igniting Yankees fans after a long Derby absence for New York. 

This HR Derby is primed to be full of excitement, every slugger has the potential to drive the ball out of the park, these are professional hitters, with their own pitchers. Big power sluggers like Cal, Wood, Cruz with power to all fields pose significant threats, but sleepers such as Olson, Rooker, Buxton with compact swings are also threats. 

This derby will favor Left-Handed Batters (Cal, Wood, Olson, Cruz, Chisholm) because of its dimensions. 

 

Some of my favorite bets for this years Derby:

🔗FD Link

They might both hit one 500+ 

 

🔗 FD Link

Exactas🤝

Give me Matt Olson or Oneil Cruz to take home the trophy 🏆