Home Run Derby 2025: Unexpected Stars and Fan Favorites Set to Clash in Epic Showdown

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby is shaping up to be one heck of an event, scheduled for July 14 right in the heart of Atlanta at Truist Park. The buzz is growing as the lineup starts to take shape, with none other than Braves’ own Ronald Acuña Jr. leading the charge as the first confirmed participant. It’s a perfect storyline—Acuña swinging for the fences in front of his hometown crowd . Joining him are seven other of baseball’s most potent power hitters, all ready to light up the night. Teoscar Hernández, the reigning champ who edged out Bobby Witt Jr. in a thrilling 2024 finale, won’t be back to defend his crown, which leaves the door wide open for fresh heroics. Just this past Thursday, James Wood threw his hat into the ring, adding even more intrigue and leaving five coveted spots still up for grabs. As anticipation builds, the stage is set for what promises to be an unforgettable display of raw power and clutch performance. To catch all the latest updates and get the full scoop, don’t miss out — LEARN MORE

The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby will take place on July 14 and the eight-player field starting to come into view.

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was the first to commit to the event, held at his home park of Truist Field in Atlanta, and will be joined by seven of MLB’s top power hitters in the crowd-pleasing event. Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández is the reigning Derby champion after beating out Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. in the 2024 final.

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James Wood became the latest player confirmed to be taking part on Thursday, leaving five spots up for grabs.

Here’s every slugger who has been announced to be competing in the event.

Who is competing in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby?

James Wood

The 6-foot-7 Washington Nationals slugger is having a breakout season after eclipsing the 20-home run mark by the end of June. Wood, 22, was a part of the Juan Soto trade that brought a package of young talent to the Nationals from the San Diego Padres.

Wood has been such an offensive threat this season that on June 29 the Los Angeles Angeles intentionally walked him four times. The last player to receive such an honor from an opponent was Barry Bonds in 2004, who had it done to him four times that season.

Cal Raleigh

MLB’s home run leader is a Seattle Mariners catcher nicknamed “The Big Dumper” who is on pace to blow away every personal best and maybe even challenge the AL home run record if he keeps this up. It’s a beautiful sport.

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With two straight 30-homer seasons and Platinum Glove-winning defense behind the plate, Raleigh was one of the most underrated players in baseball entering this season. Even casual baseball fans should know his name now, as he’s making his case to be considered one of baseball’s elite players, if he isn’t already there.

Ronald Acuña Jr.

The Atlanta crowd will have a hometown hero in Acuña, who will have the fewest home runs of any player in the field due to the fact he started his season two months late after returning from a torn ACL, which made him miss much of 2024.

Acuña has been on a tear since that return, though, and has 40-homer power when he’s healthy. He became the fifth player in MLB history to post 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a single season before winning MVP in 2023, and the Derby will be a prime chance to show a national audience he’s still one of MLB’s brightest stars.

Who is out of the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby?

Any season’s Home Run Derby field rarely lines up with the homer leaderboard at the All-Star break, and 2025 will be no expectation. As talented as the field is, some of MLB’s other top players have shot down the idea:

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• Aaron Judge: The reigning AL MVP and three-time home run champion won the event in his rookie year in 2017 and hasn’t competed since, saying he won’t do it again until the All-Star Game returns to Yankee Stadium. He reiterated that stance earlier this month.

• Shohei Ohtani: MLB’s biggest international star said he didn’t think it was “feasible” to compete due to the format of the Derby. He is also currently stretching himself out as a starting pitcher again, so the event might too much for his plate.

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: The Toronto Blue Jays’ $500 million man, who won the event in 2023 and hit the most homers ever in the event in 2019 (91), is a firm no.

• Teoscar Hernández: The reigning champ will not defend his title, reportedly citing the toll of the event and that he’s already missed time with an injury this year.

What are the rules of the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby?

After a decade of a pure one-on-one tournament format with timed rounds, MLB tweaked the format in 2024.

Instead of four matchups in the first round, all eight hitters competed to reach the top four, with a limit of 40 pitches across three minutes plus three bonus outs (in which they keep hitting until they fail to hit a homer three times). The hitters were then seeded for a semifinal and final, the latter of which featured two minutes and 27 pitches.

It was a complicated format, and it’s unclear if MLB will feature the same ruleset this year.

When is the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby?

The 2025 Home Run Derby will take place at 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta on Monday, July 14, the day after the 2025 MLB Draft and the day before the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. As usual, the event will be televised on ESPN.