Who Won the Home Run Derby Last Night? Last night, July 14, 2025, baseball fans were glued to their screens as the T-Mobile Home Run Derby lit up Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. The annual slugfest, a highlight of MLB’s All-Star Week, brought together eight of baseball’s biggest power hitters, each swinging for the fences in a thrilling display of raw strength and precision. When the dust settled, one player stood tall, making history in front of a roaring crowd. So, who won the Home Run Derby last night? Let’s dive into the action and break down the night’s biggest moments.
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Cal Raleigh’s Historic Victory
The 2025 Home Run Derby crowned a new champion: Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners’ slugging catcher, who became the first catcher in MLB history to win the event. Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper,” edged out Tampa Bay Rays’ rising star Junior Caminero in a nail-biting final, finishing with 18 home runs to Caminero’s 15. What made this victory extra special was the family affair—Raleigh’s father, Todd, pitched to him, while his younger brother, Todd Jr., caught behind the plate.
Raleigh’s journey to the title wasn’t without drama. In the first round, he tied with Brent Rooker at 17 home runs, but advanced by the slimmest of margins—his longest homer measured 470.61 feet, just 0.08 feet farther than Rooker’s 470.53. That inch made all the difference, propelling Raleigh to the semifinals and, eventually, the championship. His performance in the final was electric, with a flurry of homers, including six straight at one point, showcasing why he leads MLB with 38 home runs this season. Raleigh’s calm demeanor and switch-hitting prowess—he batted left-handed in the final—sealed his place in Derby history.
Standout Performances That Stole the Show
While Raleigh took home the crown, the night was packed with jaw-dropping moments from other sluggers. Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz was a fan favorite, launching a monstrous 513-foot homer in the first round, tying Aaron Judge for the longest non-Coors Field Derby blast in the Statcast era. Cruz’s 21 homers in the opening round, including another 498-foot bomb, had the crowd buzzing, but he fell to Raleigh in the semifinals.
Junior Caminero, the 22-year-old Rays phenom, also turned heads. He smashed 21 homers in the first round and advanced to the final with ease, needing less than a minute to surpass Byron Buxton’s total in the semis. Caminero’s 44 total homers averaged 435 feet, proving he’s a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton, a Georgia native, thrilled the local crowd with 20 first-round homers, but couldn’t keep pace in the semifinals.
Unfortunately, not everyone had a fairy-tale night. Hometown hero Matt Olson, who stepped in for Ronald Acuña Jr., started strong but faded, exiting in the first round with 15 homers. Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees had a rough go, managing just three homers, drawing boos from the crowd after a string of foul balls.
The Drama of the Tiebreaker
One of the night’s most talked-about moments came in the first round, where Raleigh and Brent Rooker of the Oakland Athletics were deadlocked at 17 homers. With both players’ longest homers initially reported at 471 feet, it seemed a swing-off was imminent. But then Statcast delivered the verdict: Raleigh’s homer was 470.61 feet, Rooker’s 470.53—an inch-long difference that sent Raleigh to the next round and left Rooker shaking his head. Rooker later commented, “Maybe if they have it to the decimal point, they should display that during the Derby.” This razor-thin margin sparked some controversy but highlighted the precision of modern technology in deciding such high-stakes moments.
What This Means for Raleigh and the Mariners
Cal Raleigh’s win is more than just a Derby trophy—it’s a statement. The 28-year-old is having a career year, with his 38 homers putting him on pace to challenge Salvador Perez’s record of 48 homers by a catcher in a single season. He’s also in the conversation for AL MVP, battling heavyweights like Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. Raleigh’s victory, paired with Ken Griffey Jr.’s three Derby titles, ties the Mariners with the Yankees for the most Home Run Derby wins at four.
For Raleigh, the win was deeply personal. “It means the world,” he said on ESPN’s broadcast. “I could have hit zero home runs, and I would have had just as much fun.” His father echoed the sentiment, calling it a dream come true to see his son shine on such a big stage. For Mariners fans, this victory is a spark of hope as they dream of a deep postseason run, with Raleigh leading the charge.
In the end, the 2025 Home Run Derby was a night of history, heart, and raw power. Cal Raleigh’s triumph as the first catcher to win, coupled with unforgettable blasts from Cruz and Caminero, made it a night to remember. As the All-Star Game looms, Raleigh’s performance has set the stage for an exciting second half of the season.