Cal Raleigh Wins Home Run Derby, Edges Brent Rooker by Under Inch

Cal Raleigh won the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park, becoming the first catcher and first Seattle Mariners player since 1999 to claim the title, defeating Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final. Raleigh led the major leagues with 38 home runs this season and hit 54 total in the Derby, narrowly advancing from the first round via a tiebreaker against Brent Rooker by less than an inch—Raleigh's longest home run measured 470.62 feet, just 0.08 feet farther than Rooker's 470.54 feet. Rooker's elimination sparked surprise and debate due to the razor-thin margin and the unusual tiebreaker rule that favors the longest home run rather than a swing-off, which is more common in such ties. Despite the heartbreak, Rooker impressed with 17 home runs in the opening round, including six homers over 440 feet, and showed strong pacing and strategy with guidance from former participants. The Derby highlighted both power and precision, with Raleigh's consistency and slight edge in distance propelling him through to the semifinals and eventual victory. Junior Caminero also made a notable run to the final, aiming to become the youngest winner in Derby history but ultimately falling short.