Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh claimed the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby title in Atlanta. The event took place at Truist Park and featured some of baseball’s brightest sluggers. Raleigh, who hit 38 homers before the All-Star break, became the first catcher ever to win the Derby.
He beat Tampa Bay’s 22-year-old Junior Caminero in the final. With his father pitching and his brother catching, Raleigh delivered a memorable performance that thrilled fans and made history.
Raleigh also joined Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players from the Mariners to win the Derby. Griffey won the contest three times during his career.
Reflecting on the moment, Raleigh said he never expected to be part of the event, let alone win it. He said sharing the win with his family made the night extra special.
Earlier in the competition, Raleigh barely made it past the first round. He and Brent Rooker both hit 17 home runs. The tie-breaker came down to the longest home run hit. Both appeared to have blasts of 471 feet, but official measurements showed Raleigh edged Rooker by just 0.08 feet — 470.61 to 470.53.
“That’s as close as it gets,” Raleigh said. “One inch the other way, and I’m out. That’s wild. I guess I got lucky there.”
In the semifinals, Raleigh found his rhythm. He smashed 19 home runs to beat Oneil Cruz from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cruz had wowed the crowd earlier with a 513-foot homer — the longest of the night — during a 21-homer first round.
Raleigh’s power surge continued into the final, where he defeated Caminero, who had earlier beaten Minnesota Twins star Byron Buxton in the other semifinal. Buxton hit 20 in the first round but couldn’t match Caminero’s pace.
Other participants in the Derby included Washington’s James Wood, who hit 16 home runs, and Atlanta’s own Matt Olson, who hit 15. Jazz Chisholm of the Yankees had only 3 and was eliminated early.
After the Derby, Raleigh’s father Todd spoke about how special the night was for the family. He said the experience changed when it became a family affair, and they were proud regardless of the outcome.
When asked how Cal became a switch-hitter, Todd recalled moments from his son’s early childhood. He said Cal was swinging both ways while still in diapers. Using a big red plastic bat, young Cal would hit balls from both sides as his father guided him.
“He’s been doing it since day one,” Todd said. “I’d pitch, he’d hit, then I’d turn him around and he’d do it again.”
The 2025 Home Run Derby proved to be a showcase of talent, drama, and emotion. But in the end, it was Cal Raleigh’s night. A catcher with power, precision, and poise took the crown in a contest that tested every ounce of his skill.
Raleigh’s win not only adds to his breakout season but also cements his place in Mariners history. As the All-Star festivities continue, fans will remember this slugfest — and the family story behind it — for years to come.
