Home Run Derby 2025 Time: The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby is just around the corner, and baseball fans are buzzing with excitement! This annual slugfest, a highlight of the All-Star Week, brings together some of the game’s biggest power hitters to launch towering home runs into the stands. Set to take place at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, this year’s event promises to be a thrilling spectacle. If you’re wondering about the Home Run Derby 2025 time, who’s competing, and what makes this event so special, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive into all the details!
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When and Where to Watch the Home Run Derby
The 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby is scheduled for Monday, July 14, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. ET. If you’re in a different time zone, that’s 7:00 p.m. CT, 6:00 p.m. MT, or 5:00 p.m. PT. The event will be held at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, which adds a special hometown vibe for local fans. You can catch the action live on ESPN and ESPN2, with the latter offering a “Statcast Edition” that includes advanced data and metrics for the analytics nerds out there. If you prefer streaming, options like fuboTV, MLB.com, and ESPN.com have you covered. For those lucky enough to be in Atlanta, tickets are available, though prime seats were reportedly going for over $1,000 on the secondary market! Whether you’re watching from home or cheering in the stands, the 8:00 p.m. ET start time is when the fireworks begin.
Who’s Swinging for the Fences?
This year’s Home Run Derby features a stacked lineup of eight sluggers, each bringing their own flair to the competition. Leading the pack is Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who’s smashed an MLB-leading 38 home runs in the first half of 2025, making him the betting favorite at +275 odds. Other heavy hitters include Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz, known for his jaw-dropping 122.9 mph exit velocity, and Washington Nationals’ James Wood, a 22-year-old phenom with 24 homers. The field is rounded out by Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton (21 HRs), Athletics’ Brent Rooker (20 HRs), Atlanta Braves’ Matt Olson (17 HRs, replacing Ronald Acuña Jr.), New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. (17 HRs), and Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero (23 HRs). Notably, none of these players have won the Derby before, so we’re guaranteed a first-time champion. Raleigh could make history as the first catcher or switch-hitter to win, while hometown hero Olson will have the Atlanta crowd roaring.
How the Home Run Derby Works
If you’re new to the Home Run Derby, here’s a quick breakdown of the format. The event consists of three rounds: the first round, semifinals, and finals. In the first round, each of the eight players gets three minutes or 40 pitches (whichever comes first) to hit as many home runs as possible. There’s also a bonus period where they swing until they make three outs (any swing that isn’t a home run). If a player hits a homer over 425 feet during the bonus period, they earn an extra out. The top four home run totals advance to the semifinals, where players are seeded based on their first-round performance. In the semis and finals, the time limit drops to two minutes or 27 pitches, with the same bonus period rules. Ties are settled by a 60-second swing-off, and the player with the most homers in the final round takes home the $1 million prize and a shiny Home Run Derby chain. It’s a fast-paced, high-energy format that keeps you on the edge of your seat!
Why This Year’s Derby Is a Must-Watch
The 2025 Home Run Derby is shaping up to be one for the books. With no returning champion—last year’s winner, Teoscar Hernández, isn’t in the field—there’s a fresh sense of unpredictability. Cal Raleigh’s monster first half makes him a fan favorite, but Oneil Cruz’s raw power and James Wood’s all-fields approach could steal the show. Add in the emotional homecoming for Georgia natives like Matt Olson and Byron Buxton, and you’ve got a storyline-packed event. Plus, MLB is honoring home run legends Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth, with National League players wearing Aaron’s No. 44 and American League players sporting Ruth’s No. 3 on their jerseys. The atmosphere at Truist Park, combined with the star power and high stakes, makes this a can’t-miss event. So, grab your snacks, tune in at 8:00 p.m. ET, and get ready to cheer for those moonshot homers!
The 2025 Home Run Derby is more than just a power-hitting contest—it’s a celebration of baseball’s biggest stars and the thrill of the long ball. Whether you’re rooting for Raleigh to make history, Cruz to launch a 500-footer, or Olson to shine in front of his home crowd, it’s going to be a night full of jaw-dropping moments. Don’t miss it