If you were looking for the exact moment the bats started cracking in Atlanta, you might’ve realized the baseball world moves fast. People are always asking when is the homerun derby 2025, but the reality is that the 2025 Midsummer Classic festivities have already etched their place in the history books.
The 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby took place on Monday, July 14, 2025.
It wasn't just another night of batting practice. Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, turned into a literal launchpad. Honestly, the atmosphere in "The Battery" was electric—the kind of humidity that makes the ball carry and the fans stay thirsty. If you missed it live on ESPN, you missed one of the most statistically bizarre derbies we've seen in a decade.
The Night Big Dumper Made History
Forget the usual suspects like Pete Alonso or Aaron Judge for a second. The 2025 Derby belonged to a catcher. Specifically, Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners.
"Big Dumper" became the first-ever catcher to win the event. That’s a huge deal. Catchers aren't exactly known for having the fresh legs required to swing a 34-inch piece of lumber 50 times in three minutes. But Raleigh didn't care. He defeated the young phenom Junior Caminero in the final round with a score of 18–15.
The story gets even better, though. Raleigh had his dad, Todd, throwing to him. It looked like a backyard session, only with 41,000 people screaming and a trophy on the line.
Who Else Was Hitting?
The 2025 field was a weird mix of established stars and "who’s that?" rookies that ended up stealing the show.
- Matt Olson (Braves): The hometown hero. He replaced Ronald Acuña Jr. and the crowd went nuts, but he couldn't quite find the rhythm to get past the early stages.
- Oneil Cruz (Pirates): This guy is a human glitch. He hit a ball 513 feet. Let that sink in. It tied a non-Coors Field record and basically left the announcers speechless.
- James Wood (Nationals): The 22-year-old superstar in the making. He showed why he's the center of the Nats' rebuild.
- Brent Rooker (Athletics): He lost to Raleigh in the first round by—I’m not kidding—less than an inch. The Statcast measurement was 470.62 feet for Raleigh and 470.54 for Rooker.
New Rules You Probably Missed
MLB finally got tired of the "spray and pray" approach where hitters would just swing at anything to beat the clock. For 2025, they implemented a pitch limit.
In the first two rounds, hitters had a maximum of 40 pitches or three minutes, whichever came first. This slowed things down just enough so you could actually see the ball leave the park before the next one was already in the air. The final round was even tighter: two minutes or 27 pitches.
Basically, it rewarded efficiency. You couldn't just "junk" your way to a title anymore. You had to be a surgeon with a sledgehammer.
Why 2025 Felt Different in Atlanta
This wasn't just about the Derby. It was a massive tribute to Hank Aaron. Since the game was at Truist Park, every AL participant wore the number 3 (for Babe Ruth) and every NL participant wore 44 (for Aaron).
It was a bit confusing at first if you weren't paying attention to the broadcast. You'd look down and see eight guys with the same numbers. But once you realized it was a nod to the two greatest home run hitters ever, it felt right.
The Financial Hit
If you were trying to get into the stadium last minute, I hope you had a healthy savings account. Tickets on StubHub were starting at roughly $305 just for the "cheap" seats. If you wanted to sit behind home plate and catch a stray foul ball? You were looking at upwards of $5,000.
Actionable Tips for the 2026 Derby
Since the 2025 event is in the books, your eyes are probably shifting toward July 13, 2026, when the Derby moves to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Here is how you actually prepare so you don't get left behind again:
- Book the Hotel Now: Philadelphia is going to be a madhouse for the 250th anniversary of the United States. If you wait until 2026 to book a room near the stadium, you’ll be staying in a different zip code.
- Monitor the Pitch Limit: Expect MLB to keep the 2025 pitch count rules. When betting or picking your favorites, look for hitters who have a consistent "groove" rather than those who rely on rapid-fire swings.
- The "Hometown" Curse: Matt Olson didn't win in Atlanta. Todd Frazier was the last one to really do it in Cincinnati back in 2015. Don't always bet on the local guy; the pressure is usually too much.
The 2025 Derby was a wild ride that proved the "catcher power" era is officially here. If you're looking for highlights, the MLB app still has the Statcast-only feeds, which honestly are better than the main broadcast because you get to see the exit velocity on every single blast.
Keep an eye on the 2026 schedule, as ticket registration usually opens up late in the preceding winter. You don't want to be the person asking when it is the day after it happens.