Wed Jul 16 02:50:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the Home Run Derby results, with an estimated read time of 4-5 minutes:
**Cal Raleigh Wins Home Run Derby in Family Affair**
**ATLANTA** – Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, affectionately known as “Big Dumper,” emerged victorious at the All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night at Truist Park, defeating Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero in the final round with a score of 18-15. Raleigh’s victory was a family affair, with his father, Todd Raleigh Sr., a former college baseball coach, pitching, and his 15-year-old brother, Todd Raleigh Jr., catching.
Raleigh, a first-time All-Star at 28, made history as the first switch-hitter and first catcher to win the title. He joins Ken Griffey Jr. as the only Mariners players to claim the Home Run Derby crown.
“Anybody that’s ever played baseball as a kid dreams of stuff like this,” said Cal’s dad. “I dreamed of it. He dreamed of it. When you’re a parent, you look at it differently because you want your kids to be happy.”
Raleigh nearly faced elimination in the first round, tying with Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker at 17 home runs. However, he advanced thanks to a tiebreaker based on the longest home run distance – a mere 0.96 inches separated Raleigh’s 470.61-foot blast from Rooker’s 470.53-foot shot.
“An inch off, and I’m not even in the final four, which is amazing,” Raleigh admitted. “So I guess I got lucky there. One extra biscuit.”
In the semi-finals, Raleigh defeated Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz 19-13. Cruz hit the longest home run of the night at 513 feet. Caminero beat Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton 8-7 in the other semi-final.
Other participants included Atlanta’s Matt Olson, Washington’s James Wood, New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Brent Rooker, all of whom were eliminated in the first round. Chisholm had the fewest home runs since 2015, with only three. Wood hit one ball onto the roof of the Chop House in right field.
Raleigh’s unique switch-hitting ability played a role in his victory. Encouraged by his father since he was a toddler, Raleigh started the night hitting left-handed, switched to right-handed, and ultimately returned to his left side as it proved more successful.
“Was grooving a little bit more lefty so we were like, since we have a chance to win, we might as well stick to the side that’s working a little better,” Cal said.
First Piper 