Main League Baseball’s present residence run chief, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, will take part within the 2025 House Run Derby, the league introduced Friday. This 12 months’s derby will happen on July 14 at Truist Park, the Atlanta Braves’ residence stadium in Cumberland, Georgia.
“I am excited to symbolize the Mariners and our fanbase on the [Home Run] Derby,” stated the switch-hitting Raleigh, who has already belted 32 residence runs this season. “Will probably be additional particular for me attending to do it in Atlanta, the place I spent a variety of time taking part in baseball as a child.”
Batting Round: Will Cal Raleigh lead MLB in residence runs this season or will Mariners catcher decelerate?
Mike Axisa
The 28-year-old Raleigh has hit a number of history-making residence runs throughout the 2025 season, together with changing into the primary catcher to achieve 30 homers earlier than the All-Star Break and in addition the primary switch-hitter to take action.
Raleigh is 2 homers away from matching his single-season career-high (34) earlier than the All-Star Sport. He is additionally, maybe clearly, on tempo to shatter the single-season file for many residence runs hit by a catcher; that mark at the moment belongs to Kansas Metropolis Royals backstop Salvador Perez, who homered 48 instances in 2021.
On the subject of who will end with probably the most residence runs this season, oddsmakers have Raleigh (+130, per DraftKings) trailing solely Yankees slugger Aaron Decide (+100) for that honor, whereas the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is at +400.
Acuña Jr. feeling proper at residence
Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was the primary participant to declare for the derby on Wednesday, asserting his determination shortly earlier than taking the sphere towards the New York Mets.
“I am Ronald Acuña Jr. due to them,” the four-time All-Star stated by means of an interpreter on ESPN of his hometown followers.
Acuña, 27, has participated in two earlier Derbies: one in 2019, the opposite in 2022. He was eradicated by New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso on each events. Acuña had beforehand indicated that he would participate once more this summer time if the league requested him.
How Braves ‘unicorn’ Ronald Acuña Jr. is choosing up proper the place he left off (once more), plus extra MLB notes
Julian McWilliams
Acuña has performed excellently since getting back from the torn ACL that prematurely ended his 2024 marketing campaign. In 29 video games thus far, he is hit .385/.496/.692 (227 OPS+) with 9 residence runs, 16 runs batted in, and 4 stolen bases (on 4 makes an attempt). His contributions have already been value an estimated 2 Wins Above Substitute, in line with Baseball Reference’s calculations.
Though Acuña would not lead the Braves in residence runs — he is tied with Sean Murphy for fourth, behind Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Marcell Ozuna — he’s a logical option to symbolize the house market. If nothing else, he is the most important star on the roster: a former Most Worthwhile Participant Award winner and four-time All-Star who additionally counts a Rookie of the Yr Award and three Silver Slugger Awards amongst his earned {hardware}.
Whereas Acuña is the Derby’s first official entrant, different gamers across the league have signaled both their curiosity or disinterest in collaborating. Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan O’Hearn has advised he could be recreation. Conversely, Decide and Chicago Cubs breakout outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong have every stated no to the thought.
