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If the NBA’s dunk competition during All-Star Weekend can have a minor-league player become a cult hero and win three consecutive titles, why can’t MLB let players who aren’t selected for the game—yes, even a minor leaguer—take swings during Home Run Derby? Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz has 17 homers in 58 MLB games, and Michael Busch of the Chicago Cubs has 19, the same number that Jo Adell of the Los Angeles Angels has. Dip down to the minors and you could see Bob Seymour of the Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays) and his 22 homers or 31-year-old Edwin RÃos of the Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds) and his 18 bombs take swings against the MLB stars. It would certainly add a little spice to the Home Run Derby.
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Today’s Headlines
Raleigh Rakes Way To Home Run Derby Crown
With his father pitching and younger brother behind the plate, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh continued his impressive power surge in 2025. The Big Dumper, who leads MLB with 38 homers, held off 22-year-old Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays to win the Home Run Derby. Raleigh hit 18 in the final round to set the pace, then Caminero came up just short with 15. Raleigh is the second Mariner to win the Home Run Derby, joining three-time champion Ken Griffey Jr., and the first catcher to do so.
There was a brief moment of controversy when one of the shaggers in the outfield robbed Caminero of a homer, but the umpire immediately ruled it a homer. It was only by the slimmest of margins that Raleigh had a chance to win the title. He and Brent Rooker of the Athletics each had 17 in the first round, but a Statcast measurement had Raleigh’s longest homer just 0.08 of an inch farther than Rooker’s best.
Raleigh also beat one of the popular Derby picks, Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, 19-13 in the semifinals. Caminero advanced by easily beating Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins 8-7 with more than a minute left on the clock. Cruz, as many expected, was the star of the Derby. He hit a 513-foot shot in the first round, which stood as the longest of the night. He also had the five longest homers, with the other four going 498, 492, 488, and 487 feet. Raleigh became just the fourth player to lead MLB in homers at the break to win the Derby.
The first round was split into two sections; the first section was 40 pitches within three minutes, and the second was untimed and three outs (with a 450-footer earning one extra out). In the semifinals and final, it was 27 pitches over two minutes, plus the three outs.
A ROBBED HR IN THE DERBY
FIRST ROUND
SEMIFINALS
FINAL
Lineup Construction Matters
It is everyone’s dream to put together a batting order filled with All-Stars. Here is what AL manager Aaron Boone and NL manager Dave Roberts came up with. Complete rosters can be found here.
Roberts Botches Response
The response to a straightforward question about why the All-Star Game is back in Atlanta was severely botched by a former NFL punter-turned-sports shock jock representing MLB and a high-profile manager of the defending World Series champions. For context, MLB took the 2021 All-Star Game away from Atlanta and moved it to Denver. That was due to Georgia passing a law that limited voters in several ways, especially voters of color, including not being able to receive water or food from others while standing in line at the polls. Fast-forward to the press conference announcing the All-Star Game starting lineups that was hosted by former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee and a question from Jen Ramos Eisen directed toward NL manager Dave Roberts of the Dodgers, and watch them stumble and fumble their response, especially Roberts, who has made strong statements previously. Roberts, the son of a Black father and Japanese mother, was similarly muted before and during the Dodgers’ visit to the White House in April, following the current administration removing mentions of Dodgers and MLB legend Jackie Robinson from websites before returning them. McAfee was a spectacle (derogatory) just by being himself.
‪Pat McAfee, Dave Roberts went full company men when faced with a tough question by @jenramose.online‬ about why the MLB All-Star Game was back in Atlanta despite no change to Georgia's disenfranchising voting laws.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing.bsky.social) 2025-07-14T18:47:15.769Z
Sale Of Rays Takes Next Step
After a report of a signed letter of intent to sell the Tampa Bay Rays last month, the All-Star break has seen progress in that deal, with an agreement in principle between current owner Stu Sternberg and a group led by Patrick Zalupski for $1.7 billion. The sale could be finalized as early as September. Sternberg bought the Rays in 2004 for $200 million. Zalupski is a Jacksonville developer who plans on keeping the Rays in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. The biggest issue the new ownership group will need to address is the stadium. Tropicana Field was severely damaged by a hurricane in October to the point of being unplayable this season, forcing the Rays to play in a New York Yankees minor-league stadium that doubles as the team’s spring training facility. A stadium funding deal had been all but finalized between St. Petersburg and the team for $1.3 billion, but the hurricane hit before a final vote. While that vote still passed, the team let a deadline pass this spring that scuttled the deal and led to the sale. The expectation is that Tropicana Field will be ready for the 2026 season.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Family Ties
When your dad thinks you should be hitting more home runs in the Home Run Derby. (Cal Raleigh’s dad was his pitcher, and his brother the catcher.)
Big Dumper got hit by a pitch in the home run derby 😂
What Is MySpace?
Steele Hall and Daniel Pierce might have become first-round draft picks Sunday and could be embarking on long and successful pro baseball careers, but when asked to look back a few years, they had trouble identifying things many of us remember—for good or bad.
Injuries and Other Moves
âš¾ Cal Raleigh will play for the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic next year.
âš¾ Kansas City Royals right-handed starter Michael Lorenzen went on the 15-day injured list due to a strained left oblique. Lorenzen was scratched from his start Saturday after becoming ill Friday. He is expected to miss about a month.
âš¾ Jim Clancy, who spent 12 of his 15 MLB seasons as a pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays, died at age 69. Clancy was an All-Star in 1982.
Articles You Should Read
After “insane” 5 weeks, Misiorowski honored to be on All-Star team — Adam McCalvy, MLB.com
A lot has changed for Red Sox All-Star Crochet in the last year — Alex Speier, Boston Globe
Giants’ Rodriguez: Players picked him as an All-Star, but no one wants to face him — Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle
Healthy deGrom happy to pay dividends on Rangers’ investment — John Perrotto, Newsweek
(Not) everybody is a star — Daniel R. Epstein, Baseball Prospectus
Is there really reason to panic, Dodgers fans? — Jim Alexander, Orange County Register
Some helpful reference points on pitchers — Sydney Bergman, FanGraphs
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
