Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was crowned champion of the 2025 Home Run Derby on Monday, becoming the first catcher in Major League history to win the contest. The event was held prior to the All-Star Game, and Raleigh prevailed after making it through three rounds with a cumulative total of 54 home runs.

In the first round, Raleigh advanced by the narrowest margin. He tied Brent Rooker for the spot thanks to his longest home run of 470.61 feet, compared to Rooker's 470.53 feet.

Under Derby rules, the tiebreaker for this round is the distance of the longest hit. Had this happened in later rounds, a swing-off would have been used.

In the semifinals, Raleigh soundly defeated Oneil Cruz (19 HR to 13), and in the finals, he defeated Junior Caminero 18 home runs to 15. The Rays player failed to complete his 27 pitches before overtime, limiting his chances of catching the winner.

A historic performance and a close with a familiar flavor

Raleigh's victory coincided with his excellent first half of the season. Going into the All-Star break, he leads the Major Leagues in home runs with 38, behind only the 39 recorded by Barry Bonds before the 2001 All-Star Game.

The catcher, a North Carolina native, also became the second player in Mariners history to win the Home Run Derby. The first was Ken Griffey Jr., who won the title three times and remains the event's longest-serving winner.

In addition to marking an individual milestone, Raleigh's triumph had a family component. His father, Todd Raleigh, was in charge of throwing the pitches to him, while his younger brother, Todd Jr., acted as catcher. The scene was highlighted on official broadcasts and generated multiple reactions on social media.

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