Get ready for one of summer’s most electrifying spectacles as the brightest sluggers in baseball converge on Truist Park for the 2025 T‑Mobile Home Run Derby. From rising stars to veteran powerhouses, here’s everything you need to know before the first pitch of this year’s all‑star slugfest.
2025 Home Run Derby: Everything You Need to Know
- Date: Monday, July 14, 2025 – The Derby serves as the prequel to Tuesday’s All‑Star Game, giving baseball fans a night of nonstop, fence‑clearing action
- Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia – The Home of the Braves, the modern ballpark will host its first Home Run Derby since 2000, featuring its cozy stands and hitter‑friendly dimensions
- Start Time: 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN – The main telecast kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, and for those who love live play combined with stats, you can enjoy the special “Statcast Edition” airing simultaneously on ESPN2.
- Where to Watch the 2025 Home Run Derby – Watch ESPN and ESPN2 on DIRECTV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Sling TV, and YouTube TV.
The Format, Rules, Bracket & Participants
2025 Home Run Derby Rules & Format
Eight competitors will battle through a three‑round, head‑to‑head format. Each slugger faces up to 40 pitches in Round One; the top four advance to Round Two, with pitch counts resetting, and the final two go head‑to‑head over 27 chances to hit it out of the park.
The Bracket: 2025 Home Run Derby Participants
- Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners)
- James Wood (Washington Nationals)
- Byron Buxton (Minnesota Twins)
- Oneil Cruz (Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays)
- Brent Rooker (Oakland Athletics)
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (New York Yankees)
- Matt Olson (Atlanta Braves) [Replacing Ronald Acuña Jr. due to injury]
Storylines & What to Watch Out for During the 2025 Home Run Derby
- ATL All-Star: Although Ronald Acuña Jr. is injured, the replacement with local favorite Matt Olson could feed off the hometown energy.
- Switch‑Hit Edge: Cal Raleigh is only the second player ever to switch‑hit in Derby history and could surprise from both sides of the plate.
- Exit Velocity Showdown: Oneil Cruz’s record 122.9 mph blast sets the stage for some of the hardest contact ever seen in Derby history
- Pitch‑Count Derby: First round is 40 pitches, semis reset counts, final is 27 pitches.
- Head‑to‑Head Bracket: Winners advance by total homers; ties trigger a 60‑second swing‑off.
- Custom Bats & Friendly Pitching: Each slugger uses a personalized bat, with a dedicated pitcher to deliver swings
- 31 & Done: This is the 31st and final time that ESPN will air the Home Run Derby
Watch the MLB Home Run Derby in 2025 Live on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV & More
You can find all the action and excitement during the 2025 Home Run Derby on ESPN and ESPN2. With Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or any other compatible device, cord cutters can stream every home run in Atlanta with a live TV streaming service.
New subscribers can enjoy the trial period and watch the Home Run Derby in 2025 for free via DIRECTV | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | YouTube TV. Or take 50% off the first month of Sling TV.