Cal Raleigh (+300)
Raleigh enters the 2025 Homerun Derby as the betting favorite, leading the
MLB with 38 home runs this season. Raleigh is the second switch-hitter in derby history (Adley Rutschman 2023).
Bat Speed: 75.1 mph (90th percentile)
Barrel Rate: 20.2% (5th)
Pull: 56.4% (1st)
FB: 57.6% (1st)
Pitcher: Todd Raleigh, Dad
Todd Raleigh is a former division 1 head
baseball coach at Tennessee & Western Carolina, but has no prior derby experience.
O’Neil Cruz (+310)
Cruz enters with the strongest power in the field, leading the
MLB in exit velocity and leads the field in barrel percentage.
While he only has 16 home runs on the season, on May 25th, 2025 Cruz recorded the hardest hit ball in
MLB history at 122.9 MPH.
Bat Speed: 78.6 MPH (100th percentile)
Barrel Rate: 20.3% (2nd)
HR/FB: 21.3% (18th)
Pitcher: Stephen Morales, Pirates assistant coach and translator
Morales throws pregame batting practice to Cruz, and is the #1 BP pitcher for the Pirates. Morales and Cruz have built a strong relationship over the years, from coaching to translating his interviews.
James Wood (+370)
James Wood enters as one of the top rookies in the
MLB at just 22 years old. He ranks 1st in the
MLB in FB/HR percentage at 32.4%, and in the 97th percentile for exit velocity.
With 24 home runs in the 2025 season, wood and 14.8% barrel rate over the last 2 weeks, Wood sits as the third favorite at +370.
Bat Speed: 76.1 MPH (96th percentile)
Barrel Rate: 18.5% (8th)
HR/FB: 32.4 (1st)
Pitcher: Ricky Gutierrez, Nationals 3rd base coach
Gutierrez throws batting practice to wood throughout the season, and is a 12 season
MLB veteran.
Byron Buxton +850
Buxton is entering with a 94.1% exit velocity and 15.6% barrel rate on the season. Hitting the cycle on Saturday, coming in as one of the hottest bats in the field.
Bat Speed: 75.0 MPH (90th Percentile)
Barrel Rate: 15.6% (19th)
Pull: 53.1% (6th)
Pitcher: Tommy Watkins, Twins third base coach
Watkins has thrown BP to Buxton he was at Cedar Rapids in 2013, and has been on the Twins staff since 2019.
Matt Olson (+900)
Olsen enters replacing Ronald Acuna Jr in the 2025 Home Run Derby. While only hitting 17 home runs on the season, we have seen massive hitting power from him leading the
MLB with 54 home runs in 2023.
Bat Speed: 73.7 MPH (75th percentile)
Exit Velocity: 93.8
Barrel Rate: 16.5% (13th)
Pitching: Eddie Perez, Braves Assistant Coach
Perez has been on been apart of the Braves coaching staff for nearly two decades, and played 11 seasons in the
MLB.
Junior Caminero (+1000)
Caminero brings his elite speed into the competition - with a 78.0 mph bat speed ranking in the 100th percentile. With 23 home runs on the season, he is on pace for a 40+ home run season at 22 years old.
Bat Speed: 78.0 mph (100th percentile)
Barrel Rate: 11.0% (73rd)
HR/FB: 53.4% (12th)
Pitcher: Tomas Francisco, Rays Field Coordinator
Francisco pitched in the derby two years ago to Randy Arozarena where he finished as a runner up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and has experience throwing in the derby.
Brent Rooker +1000
Rooker enters as one of the top power hitters in
baseball with over 20 homers this seasons, and 39 in 2024. Rookers bat speed ranks in the 78th percentile at 73.8 mph.
Exit Velocity: 90.5
Barrel Rate: 14.3% (28th)
HR/FB: 17.7% (35th)
Pitching: Joe Caruso, mentor
Joe Caruso is Rookers hitting from age 9 throughout his high school career. He now throws BP to Rooker every offseason.
Jazz Chisholm Jr +1500
Chisholm enters with the lowest exit velocity among participants with an 89.3 average exit velocity on the season. With 17 home runs in only 61 games, missing games due to various injuries.
Bat Speed: 73.3 mph (70th percentile)
Barrel Rate: 18.6% (7th)
FB/HR: 20.2% (13th)
Pitcher: Geron Sands, stepdad
Sands has thrown Chisholm batting practice since he was a kid, and most recently in the Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in 2024.
822,6K
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