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RK PLAYER POS HOMETOWN HT WT STARS GRADE SCHOOL

1 QB-PP Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 6’3” 185 93

2 QB-PP New Orleans, LA
Isidore Newman School 6’3” 204 93

3 QB-PP Detroit, MI
Martin Luther King High School 6’3” 200 93

4 CB Lakeland, FL
Lakeland High School 6’2” 165 92

5 OT Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’6” 325 91

6 WR Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 5’10” 172 91

7 OLB Montgomery, AL
Carver High School 6’3” 230 91

8 QB-DT Denton, TX
John H. Guyer High School 6’1” 195 91

9 DT Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’3” 275 90

10 OT Runnells, IA
Southeast Polk High School 6’6” 315 90

11 DT Montgomery, AL
Carver High School 6’3” 300 90

12 S Hoschton, GA
Mill Creek High School 6’0” 190 90

13 WR Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 5’11” 180 90

14 S Denton, TX
John H. Guyer High School 6’0” 195 90

15 DT Katy, TX
Patricia E. Paetow High School 6’4” 270 90

16 OT Braintree, MA
Thayer Academy 6’5” 300 90

17 OLB Denton, TX
Billy Ryan High School 6’2” 230 90

18 RB Lehigh Acres, FL
Lehigh Senior High School 5’11” 195 89

19 DE Tampa, FL
Berkeley Prep 6’5” 245 89

20 RB Buford, GA
Buford High School 5’10” 185 88

21 QB-PP Zachary, LA
Zachary High School 6’4” 225 88

22 S Lynn, MA
Saint John’s Prep 6’0” 200 87

23 WR Fort Lauderdale, FL
Stranahan High School 6’3” 200 87

24 S Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’2” 190 87

25 QB-PP Snellville, GA
Brookwood High School 6’2” 210 87

26 QB-DT Pittsburg, CA
Pittsburg High School 6’4” 185 87

27 CB Florence, AL
Florence High School 6’2” 170 87

28 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 240 87

29 WR Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’0” 190 87

30 DE Venice, FL
Venice High School 6’4” 235 87

31 QB-PP Downey, CA
Warren High School 6’6” 195 87

32 CB Phenix City, AL
Central High School 6’2” 180 87

33 WR Atherton, CA
Menlo High School 6’3” 215 87

34 ATH Washington, DC
Archbishop Carroll High School 6’5” 225 87

35 TE-H Phoenix, AZ
Pinnacle High School 6’6” 235 86

36 OLB Tampa, FL
Jesuit High School 6’1” 210 86

37 QB-PP Birmingham, AL
Briarwood Christian School 6’3” 205 86

38 WR DeSoto, TX
DeSoto High School 6’0” 175 86

39 RB Orlando, FL
Edgewater High School 6’2” 220 86

40 WR Baton Rouge, LA
Catholic High School 6’4” 185 86

41 RB El Campo, TX
El Campo High School 5’11” 180 86

42 WR Houston, TX
Langham Creek High 5’11” 180 86

43 CB Arlington, TX
James Martin High School 6’1” 185 86

44 WR Longview, TX
Longview High School 6’2” 185 86

45 ATH Mustang, OK
Mustang High School 6’3” 185 86

46 DE Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’4” 255 86

47 ATH Raleigh, MS
Raleigh High School 6’3” 200 86

48 CB Dallas, TX
South Oak Cliff High 5’11” 170 86

49 DT Tyler, TX
Tyler Legacy High School 6’4” 245 86

50 DE Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’5” 270 86

51 S Venice, FL
Venice High School 6’0” 190 86

52 DE Hyattsville, MD
DeMatha Catholic High School 6’6” 260 86

53 OG Lee’s Summit, MO
Lee’s Summit North High School 6’5” 310 86

54 S New Iberia, LA
Westgate High School 6’2” 185 86

55 OG Wyomissing, PA
Wyomissing High School 6’4” 285 86

56 DE North Kansas City, MO
North Kansas City High School 6’4” 210 86

57 OLB Baton Rouge, LA
University Laboratory School 6’1” 210 86

58 DE Platte City, MO
Platte County R-III High School 6’5” 210 86

59 WR Round Rock, TX
Stony Point High School 6’2” 175 86

60 OT Ramsey, NJ
Don Bosco High School 6’5” 290 86

61 WR Miami, FL
Gulliver Prep High School 6’1” 170 86

62 ATH La Grange, TX
La Grange High School 5’11” 185 86

63 OT Findlay, OH
Findlay High School 6’5” 260 86

64 DE Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’5” 265 86

65 OT Rock Island, IL
Alleman High School 6’6” 305 86

66 DT Gardendale, AL
Gardendale High School 6’5” 280 86

67 OLB Tallahassee, FL
Lincoln High School 6’2” 215 86

68 WR Rolesville, NC
Rolesville High School 6’2” 185 86

69 OT Monroe, LA
Neville High School 6’5” 300 86

70 OLB Orlando, FL
Jones High School 6’2” 235 86

71 DT Oradell, NJ
Bergen Catholic High 6’6” 325 86

72 DE Miami, FL
Miami Central High School 6’3” 255 86

73 WR Thomasville, GA
Thomas County Central High School 5’11” 175 86

74 TE-H Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’5” 230 86

75 DT Warner Robins, GA
Warner Robins High School 6’5” 270 86

76 WR Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 5’11” 190 85

77 OG Ashburn, VA
Broad Run High School 6’5” 280 85

78 QB-DT Maize, KS
Maize High School 6’2” 175 85

79 OLB Merrillville, IN
Andrean High School 6’2” 215 85

80 S Shiner, TX
Shiner High School 6’1” 175 85

81 WR Phenix City, AL
Central High School 5’11” 175 85

82 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’5” 240 85

83 WR Heathsville, VA
Northumberland High School 6’2” 225 85

84 OG Odessa, TX
Permian High School 6’4” 300 85

85 CB Quincy, FL
Robert F. Munroe High School 6’1” 190 85

86 TE-H Bixby, OK
Bixby High School 6’3” 215 84

87 DT Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’3” 300 84

88 CB Tampa, FL
Wharton High School 6’1” 187 84

89 WR Orlando, FL
Boone High School 6’2” 180 84

90 OT Mount Pleasant, SC
Oceanside Collegiate Academy 6’7” 285 84

91 QB-PP Ankeny, IA
Ankeny High School 6’6” 230 84

92 RB Saint Louis, MO
Christian Brothers College High School 6’1” 195 84

93 WR Flower Mound, TX
Marcus High School 6’3” 175 84

94 OG Orange Park, FL
Orange Park High School 6’4” 295 84

95 ILB Barnesville, GA
Lamar County High School 6’1” 220 84

96 ATH Houston, TX
Dwight D. Eisenhower High School 5’10” 170 84

97 TE-Y Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’5” 230 84

98 CB Gardena, CA
Junipero Serra High School 5’11” 175 84

99 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 250 84

100 OLB Murfreesboro, TN
Riverdale High School 6’5” 205 84

101 WR Ridgeland, MS
Ridgeland High School 6’3” 190 84

102 S Fort Lauderdale, FL
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 5’11” 180 84

103 OT Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’7” 310 84

104 CB Melbourne, FL
Eau Gallie High School 5’11” 180 84

105 DE Norman, OK
Community Christian School 6’4” 215 84

106 S Fulton, MS
Itawamba Agri High School 6’0” 200 84

107 OT Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’7” 290 84

108 ATH Houston, TX
The Kinkaid School 5’11” 170 84

109 OT Tuscaloosa, AL
Northridge High School 6’7” 300 84

110 DE Mentor, OH
Mentor High School 6’5” 240 84

111 CB Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’2” 185 84

112 OLB Lehi, UT
Skyridge High School 6’4” 220 84

113 DE Springdale, MD
C. H. Flowers High School 6’6” 230 84

114 OLB Crandall, TX
Crandall High School 6’1” 210 84

115 RB Dexter, MI
Dexter High School 5’11” 180 84

116 DE Eufaula, AL
Eufaula High School 6’3” 220 84

117 TE-Y Folsom, CA
Folsom High School 6’5” 235 84

118 DE Colleyville, TX
Covenant Christian Academy 6’5” 260 84

119 OT Austin, TX
Westlake High School 6’4” 310 84

120 DE New Hope, MN
Robbinsdale Cooper High School 6’4” 245 84

121 TE-H Austin, TX
Westlake High School 6’2” 220 84

122 ILB Many, LA
Many High School 6’2” 205 84

123 WR Milton, FL
Milton High School 6’3” 205 84

124 ATH Temple, TX
Temple High School 6’0” 185 84

125 OT Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Academy 6’7” 300 84

126 OLB Tampa, FL
Tampa Catholic High School 6’0” 200 84

127 DE Hickory, NC
Hickory High School 6’3” 230 84

128 TE-Y Saint Louis, MO
De Smet Jesuit High School 6’4” 250 84

129 OLB Hoschton, GA
Mill Creek High School 6’3” 200 84

130 ATH Dallas, TX
South Oak Cliff High 5’11” 170 84

131 OT Windsor, CT
Loomis Chaffee School 6’6” 310 84

132 DE Phenix City, AL
Central High School 6’4” 255 84

133 OT Roebuck, SC
Dorman High School 6’4” 305 84

134 OLB Fairfax, VA
Fairfax High School 6’2” 205 84

135 DT Camden, SC
Camden High School 6’5” 325 83

136 OG Douglasville, GA
South Paulding High School 6’4” 300 83

137 OT East Saint Louis, IL
East St. Louis High School 6’7” 355 83

138 TE-Y Thompson’s Station, TN
Independence High School 6’5” 225 83

139 OT McDonough, GA
Eagles Landing Christian Academy 6’7” 335 83

140 QB-PP Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’0” 200 83

141 CB Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Polytechnic High School 6’0” 175 83

142 S West Orange, FL
West Orange High School 6’2” 205 83

143 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 250 83

144 CB Denton, TX
John H. Guyer High School 6’0” 175 83

145 QB-PP Cornelius, NC
Hough High School 6’3” 225 83

146 WR Miami, FL
Miami Edison Senior High School 5’9” 170 83

147 ATH Lehigh Acres, FL
Lehigh Senior High School 6’0” 180 83

148 OLB Teague, TX
Teague High School 6’2” 225 83

149 CB Saint Louis, MO
De Smet Jesuit High School 6’0” 175 83

150 ATH Tampa, FL
Gaither High School 5’11” 170 83

151 RB Baton Rouge, LA
Liberty Magnet High School 5’11” 200 83

152 CB Waxahachie, TX
Waxahachie High School 5’11” 180 83

153 ATH Idaho Falls, ID
Skyline High School 6’4” 225 83

154 DE American Fork, UT
American Fork High School 6’4” 240 83

155 RB Derby, KS
Derby Senior High School 5’8” 155 83

156 CB Miami, FL
Gulliver Prep High School 6’2” 175 83

157 ATH Lincoln, NE
Lincoln East High School 6’4” 185 83

158 ILB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 225 83

159 DE Concord, NC
J. M. Robinson High School 6’5” 260 83

160 WR Lakeland, FL
Lakeland High School 6’4” 190 83

161 TE-H Santa Rosa Beach, FL
South Walton High School 6’6” 210 83

162 CB Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’2” 185 82

163 DE Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Santa Margarita Catholic High School 6’7” 255 82

164 DT Saint James, MD
St. James School 6’4” 275 82

165 RB Picayune, MS
Picayune Memorial High School 6’1” 215 82

166 DE Houston, TX
C. E. King High School 6’4” 245 82

167 CB Roswell, GA
Roswell High School 5’11” 165 82

168 OG West Bloomfield, MI
West Bloomfield High School 6’3” 280 82

169 DE Detroit, MI
Cass Technical High School 6’3” 245 82

170 DT Chandler, AZ
Chandler High School 6’4” 295 82

171 RB Farmerville, LA
Union Parish High School 5’8” 180 82

172 DE Olney, MD
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School 6’5” 235 82

173 CB Coppell, TX
Coppell High School 6’1” 190 82

174 OG Huber Heights, OH
Wayne High School 6’3” 280 82

175 ATH Uniontown, PA
Laurel Highlands High School 6’0” 160 82

176 QB-DT Nashville, TN
Montgomery Bell Academy 6’1” 170 82

177 DE Olney, MD
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School 6’5” 205 82

178 CB Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’1” 180 82

179 OLB Jacksonville, FL
Andrew Jackson High School 6’3” 215 82

180 DE Ellenwood, GA
Cedar Grove High School 6’6” 210 82

181 QB-DT Hendersonville, TN
Pope John Paul II High School 6’2” 205 82

182 CB Ellenwood, GA
Cedar Grove High School 5’11” 170 82

183 DE Austin, TX
Westlake High School 6’5” 230 82

184 OLB Durham, NC
Southern Durham High School 6’4” 215 82

185 CB Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’1” 190 82

186 ATH Dublin, GA
Trinity Christian School 6’0” 180 82

187 CB Jacksonville, FL
Bartram Trail High School 6’0” 165 82

188 QB-DT Brentwood, TN
Ravenwood High School 6’0” 210 82

189 CB Chandler, AZ
Basha High School 5’10” 175 82

190 ILB Fayetteville, GA
Whitewater High School 6’1” 220 82

191 DE Amarillo, TX
Tascosa High School 6’3” 255 82

192 OT McDonough, GA
Eagles Landing Christian Academy 6’5” 300 82

193 QB-PP Baton Rouge, LA
Woodlawn High School 6’3” 185 82

194 CB Arlington, TX
Juan Seguin High School 6’1” 175 82

195 OLB Manteca, CA
Manteca High School 6’3” 215 82

196 WR Chula Vista, CA
Mater Dei Catholic High School 6’1” 190 82

197 ILB Altamonte Springs, FL
Lake Brantley High School 6’2” 190 82

198 CB Spanaway, WA
Spanaway Lake High School 5’11” 170 82

199 TE-H Ashdown, AR
Ashdown High School 6’5” 215 82

200 DT Richmond, VA
Benedictine College Prep 6’4” 310 82

201 OT Sandy, UT
Alta High School 6’6” 300 82

202 CB Baton Rouge, LA
Woodlawn High School 6’0” 165 82

203 DE Indianapolis, IN
Lawrence Central High School 6’4” 225 82

204 TE-H Milton, MA
Milton Academy 6’4” 215 82

205 DE HIghland Home, AL
Highland Home High School 6’6” 245 82

206 CB Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 5’11” 180 82

207 ATH Miami, FL
Miami Palmetto High School 5’11” 170 82

208 DE Trussville, AL
Hewitt-Trussville High School 6’4” 255 82

209 CB Charlotte, NC
Providence Day School 6’0” 175 82

210 OC Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 325 82

211 OT Garland, TX
Naaman Forest High School 6’4” 285 82

212 RB Jacksonville, FL
Trinity Christian Academy 6’0” 190 82

213 TE-Y Saint Charles, MO
Francis Howell Central High School 6’6” 225 82

214 QB-PP Colorado Springs, CO
Vista Ridge High School 6’5” 195 82

215 CB Frisco, TX
Lone Star High School 6’0” 170 82

216 DE Pleasant Valley, IA
Pleasant Valley High School 6’5” 240 82

217 S Munford, AL
Munford High School 5’11” 195 82

218 DT New Bern, NC
New Bern High School 6’3” 285 82

219 CB Seattle, WA
Rainier High School 6’0” 180 82

220 ATH Pittsburg, CA
Pittsburg High School 6’1” 175 82

221 DE West Roxbury, MA
Catholic Memorial High School 6’4” 255 82

222 S Mansfield, TX
Mansfield High School 6’0” 185 82

223 DT Camden, NJ
Eastside High School 6’4” 300 82

224 ATH Cocoa, FL
Cocoa High School 5’11” 170 82

225 DE Thomaston, GA
Upson-Lee High School 6’5” 245 82

226 DT Rome, GA
Rome High School 6’4” 270 82

227 ATH Folsom, CA
Folsom High School 6’1” 190 82

228 CB Arlington, TX
Timberview High School 5’11” 185 82

229 ATH Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dillard High School 5’11” 190 82

230 RB Charlotte, NC
West Charlotte High School 6’0” 185 82

231 WR Tallahassee, FL
James S. Rickards High School 6’3” 190 82

232 RB Scranton, PA
Scranton Preparatory School 5’11” 190 82

233 CB Montgomery, AL
Alabama Christian Academy 6’2” 180 82

234 WR Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 185 81

235 ATH Waco, TX
Connally High School 6’2” 190 81

236 S Irvington, NJ
Irvington High School 6’0” 190 81

237 CB Kankakee, IL
Kankakee High School 6’2” 170 81

238 WR Chipley, FL
Chipley High School 6’2” 185 81

239 DE Saint Petersburg, FL
Lakewood Senior High School 6’4” 225 81

240 ATH Ocean Springs, MS
Ocean Springs High School 6’2” 190 81

241 RB Sandersville, GA
Washington County High School 5’11” 190 81

242 WR Miami, FL
Dade Christian High School 6’2” 195 81

243 DE Washington, DC
St. John’s College High School 6’3” 235 81

244 ILB Philadelphia, PA
Imhotep Institute Charter High School 6’1” 220 81

245 WR Nashville, TN
The Ensworth School 6’3” 200 81

246 OT Provo, UT
Timpview High School 6’4” 260 81

247 TE-H Norcross, GA
Norcross High School 6’3” 220 81

248 S Zachary, LA
Zachary High School 6’2” 200 81

249 RB Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’1” 220 81

250 OT Paris, TN
Henry County High School 6’5” 310 81

251 DT Jacksonville, FL
Westside High School 6’4” 300 81

252 S West Chester, OH
Lakota West High School 6’3” 175 81

253 OT Columbus, GA
Carver High School 6’5” 300 81

254 WR Tulsa, OK
Booker T. Washington High School 5’11” 170 81

255 TE-Y Tucson, AZ
Mountain View High School 6’4” 245 81

256 DE Gainesville, FL
Buchholz High School 6’3” 245 81

257 RB Middleburg, FL
Middleburg High School 5’11” 195 81

258 DE Manor, TX
Manor High School 6’4” 225 81

259 CB Fort Mitchell, KY
Beechwood High School 5’10” 175 81

260 QB-DT Tacoma, WA
Lincoln High School 6’0” 205 81

261 ILB Fort Worth, TX
North Crowley High School 6’1” 215 81

262 OLB Cleveland, OH
Glenville High School 6’3” 215 81

263 RB Canutillo, TX
Canutillo High School 6’1” 205 81

264 DE Cypress, TX
Cypress Ranch High School 6’3” 260 81

265 OT Arlington, TX
Lamar High School 6’7” 285 81

266 WR Owasso, OK
Owasso High School 5’10” 180 81

267 ATH Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Central Catholic H. S. 5’10” 170 81

268 QB-PP Dripping Springs, TX
Dripping Springs High School 6’2” 180 81

269 RB Miami, FL
Miami Norland High School 5’9” 180 81

270 S Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles College Prep 6’1” 180 81

271 DE Miami, FL
Gulliver Prep High School 6’4” 220 81

272 CB Rome, GA
Rome High School 6’0” 170 81

273 OG Elk Grove, CA
Elk Grove High School 6’3” 310 81

274 ILB Altamonte Springs, FL
Lake Brantley High School 6’1” 190 81

275 ATH Granada Hills, CA
Granada Hills High School 6’0” 175 81

276 WR Mesquite, TX
North Mesquite High School 6’2” 190 81

277 RB Montgomery, AL
Montgomery Catholic High School 5’11” 185 81

278 OG Gilbert, AZ
Highland High School 6’5” 265 81

279 TE-H Havelock, NC
Havelock High School 6’4” 210 81

280 ILB Smyrna, TN
Smyrna High School 6’1” 215 81

281 RB New Caney, TX
New Caney High 5’11” 190 81

282 WR Houston, TX
Andy Dekaney High School 6’2” 195 81

283 DT North Kansas City, MO
North Kansas City High School 6’3” 285 81

284 CB Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’0” 170 81

285 ATH Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 6’3” 185 81

286 S Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’2” 195 81

287 WR Roanoke, VA
Patrick Henry High School 6’0” 170 81

288 OLB Friendswood, TX
Friendswood High School 6’5” 230 81

289 OG Hyattsville, MD
DeMatha Catholic High School 6’5” 305 81

290 RB San Diego, CA
Abraham Lincoln High School 6’1” 240 81

291 ATH Arthur, IL
Arthur High School 6’2” 220 81

292 RB Naples, FL
Naples High School 6’1” 195 81

293 TE-Y Concord, CA
De La Salle High School 6’6” 255 81

294 OG Honolulu, HI
Farrington High School 6’2” 315 81

295 OLB Post, TX
Post High School 6’4” 210 81

296 OT Chattanooga, TN
Baylor School 6’6” 280 81

297 S South Bend, IN
Saint Joseph High School 6’2” 200 81

298 ATH Maiden, NC
Maiden High School 6’3” 190 81

299 DT Cypress, TX
Cypress Woods High School 6’5” 265 81

300 RB Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’0” 200 81

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: Who is the slugger to beat?

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2 hours ago

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July 8, 2025

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: Who is the slugger to beat?

Jul 7, 2025, 04:11 PM ET

The 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby is fast approaching — and the field is starting to take shape.

Braves hometown hero Ronald Acuna Jr. become the first player to commit to the event, which will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 14 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). He has since been followed by MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals and Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins.

As the entrants are announced, we’ll add them to the running list below — and break down their chances at taking home this year’s Derby prize.

Full All-Star Game coverage: How to watch, schedule, rosters, more

2025 home runs: 9 | Longest: 467 feet

Why he could win: Acuna has been crushing it since he returned to the lineup May 23 after knee surgery. Indeed, his numbers are even better than during his MVP season in 2023. It should help that he’ll be hitting in front of his home fans in Atlanta: Todd Frazier in Cincinnati in 2015 and Bryce Harper with the Nationals in 2018 rode the loud support to Derby titles. Acuna’s raw power should also translate well to the Derby: Among players with at least 500 at-bats since 2023, he has the longest average home run distance in the majors.

Why he might not: Will he run into Pete Alonso again? Acuna competed in the 2019 and 2022 contests, losing both times to Alonso by a single home run (in the semifinals in 2019 and in the first round in 2022). The home-field advantage can also perhaps be a detriment if a player gets too hyped up in the first round. See Julio Rodriguez in Seattle in 2023, when he had a monster first with 41 home runs but then tired out in the second round.

2025 home runs: 35 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: It’s the season of Cal! The Mariners’ catcher is having one of the greatest slugging first halves in MLB history, with 32 home runs, as he’s been crushing mistakes all season . His easy raw power might be tailor-made for the Derby — he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity and delivers the ball, on average, at the optimal home run launch angle of 23 degrees. His calm demeanor might also be perfect for the contest as he won’t get too amped up.

Why he might not: He’s a catcher — and one who has carried a heavy workload, playing in all but one game this season. This contest is as much about stamina as anything, and whether Raleigh can carry his power through three rounds would be a concern. No catcher has ever won the Derby, with only Ivan Rodriguez back in 2005 even reaching the finals.

2025 home runs: 23 | Longest: 451 feet

Why he could win: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s young, he’s awesome, he might or might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. This is the perfect opportunity for Wood to show his talent on the national stage, and he wouldn’t be the first young player to star in the Derby. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, so he can still muscle the ball out in BP even if he slightly mishits it. His long arms might be viewed as a detriment, but remember the similarly tall Aaron Judge won in 2017.

Why he might not: His natural swing isn’t a pure uppercut — he has a pretty low average launch angle of just 6.2 degrees — so we’ll see how that plays in a rapid-fire session. In real games, his power is primarily to the opposite field, but in a Home Run Derby you can get more cheapies pulling the ball down the line.

2025 home runs: 20 | Longest: 479 feet

Why he can win: Buxton’s raw power remains as impressive as nearly any hitter in the game. He crushed a 479-foot home run earlier this season and has four others of at least 425 feet. Indeed, his “no doubter” percentage — home runs that would be out of all 30 parks based on distance — is 75%, the highest in the majors among players with more than a dozen home runs. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile. In other words, two tools that could translate to a BP lightning show.

Why he won’t: Buxton is 31 and the Home Run Derby feels a little more like a younger man’s competition. Teoscar Hernandez did win last year at age 31, but before that, the last winner older than 29 was David Ortiz in 2010, and that was under much different rules than are used now.

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Pham homer ends Pirates’ 30-inning scoreless run

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2 hours ago

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July 8, 2025

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Pham homer ends Pirates' 30-inning scoreless run

  • ESPN News Services

Jul 7, 2025, 09:23 PM ET

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Pittsburgh Pirates are back on the board after Tommy Pham‘s two-run home run in the third inning at Kansas City on Monday night ended a 30-inning scoreless streak.

The Pirates had been shut out in all three games at Seattle during their previous series.

However, they tallied another loss against the Royals, losing 9-3.

The scoreless streak included Sunday’s 1-0 loss to the Mariners in which Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes threw 10 strikeouts in five scoreless innings before the Pirates gave up a run in the bottom of the sixth.

Before beginning this nine-game trip with the sweep by the Mariners, the Pirates had blanked the St. Louis Cardinals in three consecutive home games. Their streak of playing in six straight shutouts matched the longest in major league history.

Pham, a 12-year veteran who is in his first season with the Pirates, bookended the scoreless skid with RBIs. He drove in a seventh-inning run with a groundout Wednesday during the 5-0 victory over the Cardinals.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Vaughn homers in first Brewers AB: ‘It’s special’

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2 hours ago

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July 8, 2025

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Vaughn homers in first Brewers AB: 'It's special'

  • Associated Press

Jul 7, 2025, 05:12 PM ET

MILWAUKEE — Andrew Vaughn is back in the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers and making quite an early impression with his new team.

The Brewers called up the former Chicago White Sox slugger from the minors on Monday after a sprained left thumb landed first baseman Rhys Hoskins on the injured list. In his Brewers debut, Vaughn smashed a three-run homer off All-Star right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the first inning of Milwaukee’s 9-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Vaughn acknowledged his homer felt particularly good given the circumstances.

“You definitely black out running around the bases,” he said. “It’s special. It put us ahead against a really good pitcher and really good team.”

Vaughn became the fifth player in franchise history to homer in his first plate appearance with the club. He was the first Brewers hitter to accomplish the feat since Gabe Gross in 2006.

And it’s just the start Vaughn could use as he seeks to rejuvenate his career.

The 27-year-old Vaughn hit 72 homers for the White Sox from 2021-24, but he had tailed off lately. He posted a .699 OPS last year that was a career low at the time. He followed that up by batting .189 with a .218 on-base percentage, five homers and 19 RBI in 48 games for Chicago before getting sent to the minors on May 23.

After acquiring Vaughn in a June 13 trade that sent pitcher Aaron Civale to the White Sox, the Brewers kept him in the minors. A spot on the big league roster opened up when Hoskins got hurt last weekend.

Vaughn gives the Brewers a right-handed option to pair with left-handed hitter Jake Bauers at first base while Hoskins is out. Bauers, 29, is batting .214 with a .331 on-base percentage, five homers and 18 RBI in 54 games this season.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Hoskins’ stay on the injured list “can be weeks, not days,” potentially giving Vaughn an extended audition. Hoskins, 32, has hit .242 with a .340 on-base percentage, 12 homers and 42 RBI in 82 games.

Vaughn had been hitting .259 with a .338 on-base percentage, three homers and 16 RBI in 16 games with the Brewers’ Triple-A Nashville affiliate.

That represented a major step forward after his struggles with the White Sox.

“I feel like my swing consistency’s been a lot better – swing decisions, just working in the cage and getting it right,” Vaughn said before Monday’s game. “There were some keys I worked on, just simple things. Don’t want to do a whole revamp of the swing because it’s probably impossible during the season, most hitters would say. Just small keys and getting it right.”

Vaughn wasted no time endearing himself to his new teammates. He started a 3-6-3 double play to end the top of the first inning before delivering his 409-foot shot over the wall in left-center field in the bottom half.

“To have him show up first day, not know anybody at noon, and then he’s in there and then kind of get a huge hit in the first inning to kind of open things up was a great way to say, ‘Here I am,'” Murphy said.

Vaughn is eager to keep making those kind of statements.

“That’s pretty cool, just to be a part of something bigger than myself, being part of the Brewers,” Vaughn said. “Just trying to do anything I can to help this team win.”

In other Brewers news, shortstop Joey Ortiz was held out of the starting lineup for a second straight game after going 0 for 3 with two strikeouts Saturday in a 4-2 loss at Miami. Ortiz is hitting .209 with a .269 on-base percentage, six homers and 28 RBI in 87 games this season, though he showed progress by posting a .748 OPS in June.

Murphy said Ortiz has been swinging better lately, but must make better swing decisions.

“I want him to give me his best approach at the plate,” Murphy said before Monday’s game. “We’ve given him a lot. We’re playing him every day, and we need him, and he can’t just have lapses at the plate like that. He’s got to fight through that.”

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