The 2025 Home Run Derby field is rapidly taking shape, with emerging stars like James Wood and Junior Caminero confirmed to compete. Major League Baseball officially announced the participants this week, leaving just two spots open in the elite eight-player lineup set to showcase their power at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Junior Caminero Secures His Spot in the Derby
Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays is the latest player to confirm his participation in the 2025 Home Run Derby. Just days after celebrating his 22nd birthday, Caminero leads all major-league third basemen with 21 home runs this season. In his sophomore <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB campaign, he carries a slash line of .252/.294/.496 and recently followed up a 2023 season where he hit 31 homers over 117 games split between two minor-league levels.
Caminero’s ability to drive the ball hard is notable, boasting a maximum exit velocity of 116.5 mph — placing him in the 97th percentile among hitters this year. His bat speed ranks among the fastest in baseball, with an average barrel speed of 78.0 mph second only to fellow Derby participant Oneil Cruz.
Oneil Cruz Brings Record-Breaking Power to the Competition
Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, recognized as one of baseball’s hardest hitters, has been announced as a competitor in this year’s Derby. Cruz made headlines by launching the hardest recorded Statcast-era home run on May 25, a 122.9 mph blast that sailed past PNC Park’s right field bleachers and landed in the Allegheny River.
At 26 years old, Cruz also owns the second-hardest Statcast hit, a 122.4 mph single in 2022. This season, he is batting .203/.315/.402 with 15 home runs and leads the league with 28 stolen bases, demonstrating a rare blend of power and speed.
Byron Buxton Returns to His Georgia Roots for the Derby
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, originally from Georgia, is set to compete in the Derby taking place in Atlanta, his home state. MLB announced Buxton’s participation a week ahead of the event at Truist Park, providing fans an opportunity to witness one of baseball’s most electrifying players in action.
Though often sidelined by injuries, the 31-year-old Buxton has impressed this season, hitting .270/.334/.544 with 20 home runs and 16 stolen bases over 73 games. A significant number of his homers—fifteen in total—have been classified as “no doubters” by Baseball Savant, underscoring their unquestionable power. Additionally, his overall value this season translates to over three estimated Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference.
With Buxton, James Wood, Cal Raleigh, and Ronald Acuña Jr. locked in, four of the eight Derby participants are now confirmed.
James Wood Makes a Powerful First Appearance in the Derby
James Wood, the Washington Nationals’ rising star, has officially joined the 2025 Home Run Derby lineup. MLB revealed his inclusion on Thursday, marking Wood’s first Derby appearance just a year after his major league debut on July 1, 2024. In only 165 career games, the 6-foot-7 left-handed hitter has made a resounding impact.
This season, Wood boasts a .283 batting average with a .387 on-base percentage and a .547 slugging percentage (164 OPS+) along with 22 home runs in 322 at-bats. His raw power is evident, with 12 of those blasts categorized as “no doubters” by Baseball Savant. While Wood has only one career home run at Truist Park so far—an opposite-field shot earlier this season—he is expected to harness his prodigious talent in the Derby’s Atlanta setting.
Cal Raleigh Leads MLB in Home Runs and Joins the Derby
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, currently leading the major leagues in home runs, has been confirmed as a 2025 Home Run Derby participant. Raleigh, a switch-hitter, shared his excitement about representing the Mariners this summer in Atlanta, highlighting the personal significance of competing where he spent much of his youth playing baseball.
I’m excited to represent the Mariners and our fanbase at the [Home Run] Derby,
said Raleigh.
It will be extra special for me getting to do it in Atlanta, where I spent a lot of time playing baseball as a kid.
—Cal Raleigh
The 28-year-old has made history this season, becoming the first catcher and the first switch-hitter to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break. He is two homers shy of matching his single-season career high of 34 and is projected to shatter the single-season record for most home runs by a catcher—a record currently held by Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez, who hit 48 in 2021.
Ronald Acuña Jr. Returns to a Familiar Stage as Derby Host
Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was the first player to declare for the 2025 Home Run Derby, announcing his decision moments before a game against the New York Mets. A four-time All-Star, Acuña remains a fan favorite and a leading figure for the home-market team in this year’s competition.
I’m Ronald Acuña Jr. because of them,
he said of his local supporters through an interpreter on ESPN.
Acuña has previously competed twice in the Derby, in 2019 and 2022, being eliminated by Mets first baseman Pete Alonso both times. Before this season, he indicated willingness to participate again if invited by the league. Since returning from a torn ACL that ended his 2024 campaign prematurely, Acuña has excelled, batting .385/.496/.692 with nine home runs, 16 RBIs, and four stolen bases across 29 games. His contributions equate to roughly two wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference.
While Acuña is tied for fourth on the Braves’ home run leaderboard—behind Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Marcell Ozuna—he remains the logical choice to represent the host city’s team given his star power, including his MVP, Rookie of the Year, and three Silver Slugger honors.
The Road Ahead for the 2025 Home Run Derby
With four participants confirmed and two remaining spots yet to be filled, the 2025 Home Run Derby is shaping up to feature a compelling mix of young talent and proven power hitters. Players like James Wood and Ronald Acuña Jr. provide both star quality and strong connections to the host city, while prodigious hitters such as Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, and Cal Raleigh highlight the event’s competitive edge.
As the Derby approaches at Truist Park in Atlanta, anticipation is building for what promises to be a thrilling showcase of power hitting. The players’ varied backgrounds and skill sets not only guarantee excitement but also offer an engaging story to follow for baseball fans eager to see who will ignite the contest and claim the crown this summer.