(NEXSTAR) – Some of the best hitters in Major League Baseball will slug it out at the 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby on Monday night.
What time is the Home Run Derby?
The competition, which is taking place at Truist Park in Atlanta, is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. The annual All-Star Game will take place the following day, also at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Who is competing?
This year’s lineup consists of heavy-hitters including James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, and Brent Rooker of the Athletics. But many viewers might have their eyes set on Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, a catcher who currently leads the league in home runs this season.
“At this point, most guys are just kind of looking at each other every time he hits a homer or has a really good game,” teammate Bryan Woo told ESPN of Raleigh’s remarkable season. “We don’t really know what to make of it. We’re kind of just as dumbfounded as all the fans are.”
Here’s the complete lineup of 2025 Derby contestants, and the order in which they bat:
1. James Wood – Washington Nationals
2. Brent Rooker – Athletics
3. Junior Caminero – Tampa Bay Rays
4. Oneil Cruz – Pittsburg Pirates
5. Byron Buxton – Minnesota Twins
6. Jazz Chisholm Jr. – New York Yankees
7. Cal Raleigh – Seattle Mariners
8. Matt Olson – Atlanta Braves
How does it work?
This year’s Home Run Derby will consist of three rounds. In the first, players will have three minutes or 40 pitches (whichever comes first) to put as many homers on the scoreboard as possible. This is followed by a “bonus period,” during which players continue to bat until they fail to hit a run three times, according to the MLB.
The top four contenders advance to the second round, where they’re paired up and challenged to hit as many home runs as they can in just two minutes or 27 pitches (again, whichever comes first).
The last round pits the top two batters against each other for another round of two minutes or 27 pitches.
There are also tiebreaker procedures in the event of a tie during any round.
Who is pitching?
Contestants at the Home Run Derby have a say in who is pitching, and in most cases, this year’s players have chosen a member of the coaching staff. A few, however, have reached out to friends or family. Rooker chose Joe Caruso, his childhood and high school hitting coach. Chisolm chose his stepdad, Geron Sands. And Raleigh’s father Todd Raleigh will be throwing out pitches to his son tonight.
The MLB also noted that Raleigh’s 15-year-old brother, also Todd, will be catching for him.
How can viewers watch?
The event is airing on ESPN and ESPN2. It’s also streaming on ESPN+.
How much do participants get paid?
The overall winner receives $1 million, with the second-place player taking home half that. The six other players who participate in the Derby get $150,000.
Per the MLB’s latest collective bargaining agreement, players elected or selected to the Home Run Derby also receive six complimentary tickets for guests, first-class flights for themselves and two guests, first-class hotel accommodations for themselves and two guests, meal and tip allowances for three days, a $1,000 cash stipend and a gift from the league.
For some players, though, just participating is an honor.
“I’m not trying to think that hard about [the Derby],” Chisolm was quoted as saying, per the MLB. “I’m not even going to practice for it. The only person that needs practice is my stepdad.
“For me, I’ll just go out there, have fun, work 70 percent, don’t do too much, just hit a couple of home runs. Hopefully, I’ll win it by doing that.”
Nexstar’s Addy Bink contributed to this report.