Cal Raleigh becomes first catcher to win Home Run Derby

Jul 14, 2025, 8:54 PM | Updated: 11:12 pm

Seattle Sports

Add another chapter to Cal Raleigh’s incredible season. MLB’s home run leader is now its Home Run Derby champion.

Raleigh family supports Cal en route to Home Run Derby title

The Seattle Mariners’ catcher put on a show for the fans at Truist Park in Atlanta on Monday, slugging 54 total home runs over three rounds on his way to the Home Run Derby title.

Raleigh mashed 18 homers in the final to top Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, who hit 15.

Raleigh is the first catcher and first switch-hitter ever to win the Home Run Derby. He joins Hall of Famer and three-time Derby champion Ken Griffey Jr. as the only Mariners to win the event. Griffey won it in 1994, 1998 and 1999.

And Raleigh got to enjoy the experience with his dad, Todd Sr., and younger brother, Todd Jr., having the best seats in the house as Raleigh’s pitcher and catcher, respectively.

“It means the world,” Cal Raleigh said in on-field interview with ESPN’s Jeff Passan following his win. “I could have hit zero home runs and had just as much fun. I just can’t believe I won.”

“It’s just a great accomplishment,” Todd Raleigh Sr. said. “I think that everybody, every dad that’s had a kid, this is what they dream about.”

Raleigh takes home a $1 million prize for winning the event.

The 54 total home runs hit by Raleigh were also the most of any participant in this year’s competition.

After hitting from both sides of the plate in the first round, Raleigh batted exclusively from the left side over the final two.

The best right-handed hitter in baseball is Cal Raleigh

During his championship-winning final round, all 18 of his home runs traveled at least 400 feet. No other competitor besides Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm, who hit only three in his lone round, had a round without a home run under 400 feet.

Raleigh’s title was less than inch away from even happening. He finished in a tie the Athletics’ Brent Rooker for the fourth and final spot in the semifinals when he hit 17 home runs in the first round.

However, Raleigh advanced to the semis via the longest home run tiebreaker by less than an inch. His longest home run traveled 470.61 feet, while Rooker’s longest was 470.53 feet.

Raleigh hit two home runs in his bonus round to reach 17. He hit 10 of his home runs left-handed and seven right-handed in the first round.

Raleigh advanced to face Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz in a head-to-head semifinal matchup.

The Mariners’ switch-hitting star belted 19 home runs to get past Cruz’s 13. All but two of the 19 home runs Raleigh hit in the semifinals traveled at least 400 feet. Thirteen of them went at least 425 feet.

According to MLB.com, Raleigh hit 4.41 miles worth of home runs over the three rounds.

Raleigh leads MLB with 38 home runs this season, which is a record for American League players and one shy of the MLB record by the All-Star break.

Track every home run at the Home Run Derby here.