Being a power, switch-hitting catcher has its perks and last night, Seattle Mariners backstop Cal Raleigh used that ability to secure the 2025 Home Run Derby title.

Becoming the first catcher ever to win the derby, Raleigh needed 18 home runs in the final to beat Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero, who finished with 15 in the round. Raleigh bested Oneil Cruz in the semi-final (19 vs. 13) to advance, while Caminero got the better of Twins veteran Byron Buxton with eight home runs to his seven.

Also in the Home Run Derby were Nationals James Wood, Athletics Brent Rooker, Yankees Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Braves Matt Olson, who replaced Ronald Acuna Jr. in the derby.

Raleigh barely got out of the first round, with he and Rooker tying at 17 home runs for fourth place, and the measuring tape was brought out to determine the tiebreaker. The Mariners slugger had a 470.62-foot home run compared to Rooker’s 470.54, so the catcher ended up advancing.

History was made at the event outside of Raleigh’s win, as Cruz, the power-hitting Pirates outfielder, tied the longest home run to ever be hit at the event when it’s not featured at Coors Field, launching a 513-foot rocket that left his bat at 118 MPH. His shot ranks fourth in Home Run Derby history, with the other three being smashed at the hitter-friendly park.

For Raleigh, winning the derby was a family affair. His father was on the mound, while his brother was behind the plate, catching for the Mariners’ star. To add to the theatrics, he predicted 20 years ago that he would win the title, using a handheld camera at home – a video that would be played on the broadcast.

Raleigh joins Ken Griffey Jr. as the only Mariners players to win the Home Run Derby, while he also collects the honour of being the first switch hitter to win.

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