In a thrilling display of power and precision, Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners catcher and MLB home run leader, clinched the 2025 Home Run Derby title on Monday, July 14, at Truist Park in Atlanta. This victory marked Raleigh as the first catcher ever to win the prestigious event, as well as the first switch-hitter to do so since Ruben Sierra in 1989. The night was filled with jaw-dropping moments, intense competition, and a few surprises that captivated baseball fans across the nation.
The Derby kicked off with eight of the league's most formidable sluggers: Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, Jazz Chisholm Jr. from the New York Yankees, Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Matt Olson representing the Atlanta Braves, Cal Raleigh for the Seattle Mariners, Brent Rooker of the Oakland Athletics, and James Wood from the Washington Nationals. Each brought their unique style and raw power to the batter's box, but it was Raleigh who ultimately emerged victorious.
Raleigh's journey to the title was anything but straightforward. In the first round, he faced a nail-biting tie with Athletics' designated hitter Brent Rooker, both slamming 17 home runs. The tension mounted as the tiebreaker came down to the longest single home run distance. Raleigh edged out Rooker by less than an inch, with a mammoth 470.61-foot blast narrowly surpassing Rooker's 470.53 feet. This razor-thin margin sparked some controversy, especially from Rooker, who was left frustrated by the lack of clarity and the tiebreaker rule's reliance on such a minuscule difference. Despite the dispute, Raleigh advanced to the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Raleigh faced off against the Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, who had electrified the crowd with an awe-inspiring 513-foot home run earlier in the night—the longest blast ever tracked outside of Coors Field. Cruz's power was undeniable, leading all sluggers with 21 homers in the first round and consistently sending balls soaring into the upper decks. However, fatigue seemed to catch up with Cruz as Raleigh outslugged him 19 homers to 13, securing his place in the finals.
The other semifinal featured Junior Caminero and Byron Buxton. Caminero, a 22-year-old Dominican phenom, matched Cruz's early dominance with 21 home runs in the opening round and continued to impress by narrowly defeating Buxton with an 8 to 7 homer count. Caminero's stylish presence and formidable bat speed made him a formidable opponent and a fan favorite throughout the event.
The final showdown between Raleigh and Caminero was a dramatic and power-packed affair. Raleigh launched 18 home runs in the timed round, while Caminero responded with 15. Despite Caminero's valiant effort and youthful energy, he fell just short of tying Raleigh's total. The crowd erupted as Raleigh, known affectionately as "Big Dumper," celebrated his first Derby win, a moment made even more special by the presence of his family. His father Todd, a retired college coach, served as his Derby thrower, while his 15-year-old brother, Todd Jr., caught for him. Post-victory, Raleigh shared joyous high-fives with Mariners teammates Randy Arozarena, Bryan Woo, and Andres Muñoz, underscoring the communal spirit of the event.
Raleigh's 2025 season has been nothing short of spectacular. Leading the MLB with 38 first-half home runs, he's on pace to smash his personal best with an anticipated 64 homers by season's end. His versatility as a switch-hitter and his consistent power from both sides of the plate have transformed him from a solid everyday catcher into a legitimate MVP contender. His rise from a third-round draft pick to a national baseball icon has been meteoric, and his Home Run Derby triumph only cements his status among the sport's elite.
The Derby also featured some unexpected performances. Matt Olson, the hometown hero for the Atlanta Braves, started strong but was eliminated in the first round. Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Yankees struggled to find his rhythm, managing only three home runs before bowing out early. Conversely, Byron Buxton dazzled with his athleticism, capping his first half with a cycle just days before the Derby and showcasing flashes of brilliance during the competition.
However, the event wasn't without its controversies. The tiebreaker rule based on the longest home run distance in the first round raised questions about fairness and measurement accuracy. Brent Rooker expressed his dissatisfaction, noting the lack of transparency and the negligible difference that decided his fate. Critics suggested that a swing-off, similar to the tiebreakers used in later rounds, would have been a more equitable solution.
Despite these hiccups, the 2025 Home Run Derby delivered a memorable night of baseball excitement. Oneil Cruz’s monstrous 513-foot blast will be remembered as one of the most incredible feats in Derby history, while Junior Caminero’s poised performance hinted at a bright future for the young slugger. For Raleigh, the event was a defining moment, blending personal triumph with family pride, as evidenced by the heartfelt messages his mother found waiting in their hotel room and the supportive presence of his father and brother on the field.
Reflecting on his son’s remarkable season and Derby win, Todd Raleigh remarked, “People started saying [Johnny] Bench and [Mickey] Mantle. It's hard for me. I'm like, ‘Well, wait a minute, those guys are baseball legends and gods.’ I can't really put my son with that, but the numbers are coming to that. Hard to believe.”
Raleigh’s journey to the top is also a story of dreams realized. He first tasted Derby glory as an 8-year-old in a backyard contest, where his youthful boast, “I’m the home run derby champ,” echoed with the innocence and ambition that now fuels his professional success.
As the Mariners look ahead, Raleigh’s momentum is set to carry into the second half of the season, where he will continue to challenge for MVP honors and lead Seattle in its quest for an American League West title and potentially its first World Series appearance in franchise history. For now, the baseball world celebrates a new Derby champion, a trailblazer who has combined raw power, family support, and unyielding determination to etch his name into the annals of the sport.
