The field is set for the Home Run Derby. Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. became the final player to join the eight-man competition tonight. The Derby will take place on Monday evening at Atlanta’s Truist Park. The group:
- Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
- Byron Buxton, Twins
- Junior Caminero, Rays
- Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees
- Oneil Cruz, Pirates
- Cal Raleigh, Mariners
- Brent Rooker, Athletics
- James Wood, Nationals
Raleigh is MLB’s home run leader with 36. He is well on track to surpass Salvador Perez’s record of 48 homers by a catcher. There’s a good chance Raleigh will become the first backstop in league history to hit 50. Wood, Caminero and Buxton have all reached the 20-homer mark, while Rooker is one away.
Chisholm has 17 longballs despite losing a month to injury, while Acuña has connected on 11 since returning from an ACL tear in late May. Cruz, who has 16 homers in 82 games, arguably has more raw power than anyone else. His 122.9 MPH home run off Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson in May was the hardest-hit ball since Statcast began tracking a decade ago. Cruz has accounted for five of the top seven exit velocities in MLB this season.
Acuña, who’ll be playing at his home park, is appearing in the event for the third time. The other seven contestants are making their first Derby appearances. Last year’s champion, Teoscar Hernández, elected not to participate because he did not want to stress his legs after spending a couple weeks on the injured list in May with a left groin strain (link via Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register). Buxton is a Georgia native who’ll play in his home state. Raleigh, Caminero and Acuña will all be in the starting lineup for the following night’s All-Star Game. Wood, Rooker, Chisholm and Buxton made the All-Star teams as reserves.
I would not allow Buxton to do it.
Clip – I’m truly shocked Cal is doing it. He’s a catcher, he should be getting as much rest as possible. He has so much on the line, what’s the point of doing the derby? He doesn’t need the money either.
Buxton should be resting this All-Star break. Last season he got into 102 games, he needs to be watched.
Cal needs to be DHing more if he wants to keep the offense going, something the Mariners need to make the playoffs.
If only they had a catcher to call the games Cal DHs….. hmmm….🤔
For real. Hopefully he doesn’t injure himself reading the news.
He tried to get out of it with the recent injury scare
I wouldn’t allow any key player to participate unless my team was already virtually eliminated from the race.
Good point. There’s no use in risking your fragile stars in exhibitions such as these.
3 NL and 5 AL… really thought that Alonzo or Schwarber or even someone from the Cubs like Tucker of PCA would join last to make it 4 and 4
I wanted to see Elly’s raw power in the derby. Schwarber would have been fun, too.
None of them wanted to so it is what it is.
I remember MLB used to like an even split but also only invited players that were All Stars for that years event or a Derby winner returning to defend their title. Now, they take all volunteers until they reach eight total lol.
Actually they had to beg jazz because they didn’t have 8 who wanted to do it
He should have said no. Dude was on the IL with an oblique and now he’s doing the derby.
Ang – That’s because All-Stars are smart enough to avoid the derby, especially if their team is still contending … and with the watered down postseason format, nearly every team is still in it.
Zzz
Exactly
At least this lineup isnt as bad as last years, there’s no way it can get worse than 2024
Cruz and Raleigh are about it for excitement on this one.
I try to care about silly stunts competitions like this–I really do, it would be fun–but I just can’t. I guess that’s because I have an IQ that has a fighting chance of reaching three digits.
They have made it even stupider than it would be otherwise by NOT having the competitors be the leading home run hitters.
The ASG, always an unimportant distraction, has morphed into “All-Star Week,” and turned into a genuine annoyance.
“I hate fun.”
Cool.
can you speak at my funeral?
Al – Since you love skills competitions so much, check this out … you’ll love it!
youtu.be/dmgg9ZfV-xQ?feature=shared
I’ll be honest, I liked the older style where it wasn’t just “swing as hard and fast as you can for a timed interval”
I think that messes with people’s swings too much.
You sound like a sad pathetic person. Please breathe deep and remember it’s a game not life. You may want to expand your horizons
Cal would be the only reason to watch.
Rooker is a dark horse to win.
No Mac McClung?
I saw this and immediately was like why do I know that name?! lol. He very well maybe could win it haha. Imagine bringing up a Minor leaguer just to win the Home Run Derby which basically what Mclung is…well played sir!
McClung is why I stopped watching the dunk contests
In baseball it would be like if they decided to let people like the guy from baseball bat bros or jomboy media compete in the home run derby
Imagine let baseball influencers compete against actual mlb players,that would be hilarious! It would garner eyes,wouldn’t be competitive,but people would watch.
Priceless!
My pick is James Wood.
Most times the favorites don’t win. And it’s hard to repeat. No one expected my boy Teo to win last year. People will most likely pick Raleigh (there’s merit to that). HR derby is a stamina contest and Raleigh plays a more taxing position on a day to day basis. Wood has the length and youth on his side. 24 home runs so far, so no slouch. Nerves play into the intensity of the derby. If Wood can overcome the nerves he wins it in my opinion.
I’m saying O’Neil because he’s as strong as Stanton and judge
Raleigh probably has a ton of stamina since he’s a catcher but I think he doesn’t have the contact to be able to hit enough out
I disagree I think Cal has the best chance because it’s his natural swing. He won’t have to alter anything.
O’Neil Cruz is going win.
I doubt it. Cruz is set up to probably hit the longest homer, but I doubt he will hit the most. I think either Wood or hometown guy Acuna will take the title.
No way. Imo someone like him can’t win a contest like this. Longest? Sure.
Outlasting all these guys? ONeil Cruz?
No way.
He’ll strike out.
He also might be the first guy ever to strike out in the HR Derby.
Lol😁😜
No one cares because we’re all mourning Lee Elia.
80% of the world works for a living, the other losers come in here and post inane comments on articles all day!!! Bunch of losers! (expletives deleted)
It would be cool if the HR Derby became a way to show off top prospects and players with Rookie or Sophomore status only.
People would get a chance to see up and coming mashers.
Generate some hype!
This is precious.
People can argue about, and insult each other, about whether they like the Home Run Derby or not.
Tomorrow let’s argue about whether the Atlantic is wetter than the Pacific.
One is higher than the other so it must have more water right?
Cal is easy money!
Time to end the all star game and HRD.
Row – The only problem I have with the ASG is the price gouging.
$74-$94 for parking and $550 for upper deck outfield seats is insane.
There’s a TON of tickets still for sale, direct and secondary market. The scalpers will lose their shirt, good!!
I’ve said this before and I’ll continue to die on this hill for as long as possible:
The futures game and the celebrity softball game are the 2 best events at All Star week. The HR derby and the All Star game should just go away. It’s just completely watered down, both events.
East my posterior fanduel. The old Gs aren’t gonna play here’s the B side for your entertainment. Enjoy the dip.
1) James Wood. 2) Cal Raleigh. 3)Buxton
Certainly an interesting field. Not sure who I’m leading towards yet. Caminero, Wood, and Rooker are the guys I’m looking at.
Ever since Adrian Gonzalez jacked up his swing with the Red Sox at the midseason Derby I’ve been totally against this.
I didn’t know that was possible, but in hindsight now, forget the entire thing. Gonzales was never the same after that.
After looking it up, I saw he had 20 home runs at the break and finished with 27 on the season.
Gary – He’s always the first guy that comes to mind when thinking of messing up their swing doing the derby.
Judge vs Raleigh would have been fun to watch
They should do an all steroid era home run derby. Watch Sosa, Canseco, Bonds, all come out still looking like bulls with beady little eyes. Even Clemens could take a few swings.
Thought Eugenio Suarez would be invited. He’s hit 50+ bombs since this time last year including 29 this year.
The Big Dumper is having a MVP type season but he should rest up and skip this thing. He needs to keep that power through the rest of the year and smash any catching homerun records.
Glad I was in attendance last year because I wouldn’t drop hundred bucks to see this one if they handed me a baseball.
Basically added a Yankee hoping help draw interest lol
Chas Jizzholm
Junior for the win.
Just an AWFUL group
The Homerun Derby seems to get less interesting every year. The real sluggers more and more are opting out. Whether by their own choice or their club’s request not to participate is questionable. More fans would be tuning in if there were a chance of Ohtani vs. Judge facing off for the final. If those guys were participating, most of these guys would not even have been asked, No offense to the players, the teams or their fans, but a Junior Caminaro vs. James Woods finale is not exactly a ratings grabber.