2025 MLB Home Run Derby Complete Betting Guide and Explainer
Joe Cervenka
Host · Writer
The first leg of MLB’s All-Star festivities kicks off tonight with the annual home run derby. Some of baseball’s biggest boppers will come together to swat moon shots that light up the Atlanta sky in hopes of becoming the last Sultan of Swat standing.
Here is everything you need to know.
Where to Watch MLB Home Run Derby
- Ballpark: Truist Park
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Where to Watch: ESPN, ESPN2
- Follow: SportsGrid App (Google Play Store or Apple Store)
- Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
MLB Home Run Derby Format and Rules
The 2025 Home Run Derby features eight sluggers competing across three rounds—quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final.
In the opening round, each player gets up to three minutes or 40 pitches (whichever comes first) to launch as many home runs as possible. After that, a bonus round begins, continuing until the batter makes three non-home run swings. Hitting a 425+ foot blast during the bonus unlocks a fourth out before the clock runs out.
The top four home run totals move on. Tiebreakers favor the player who launched the longest home run in the round.
Once in the semifinals, the competition becomes head-to-head: 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3, based on the Round 1 totals. Players now get two minutes or 27 pitches, and scores reset—no carryover from the previous round.
Ties at this stage are settled with a 60-second swing-off. If still tied, batters alternate in three-swing tiebreakers until one prevails.
The final round follows the same format—two minutes, 27 pitches, and the highest home run count takes the crown.
Each participant is allowed one 45-second timeout per round, but timeouts can’t be used during bonus rounds or tiebreakers.
2025 MLB Home Run Derby Participants
| Player | Team | Position | 2025 HRs |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Wood | Nationals | Outfielder | 24 |
| Cal Raleigh | Mariners | Catcher | 38 |
| Byron Buxton | Twins | Outfielder | 21 |
| Oneil Cruz | Pirates | Outfielder | 16 |
| Junior Caminero | Rays | Infielder | 23 |
| Brent Rooker | Athletics | Designated Hitter | 20 |
| Jazz Chisholm Jr. | Yankees | Infielder | 17 |
| Matt Olson | Braves | First Baseman | 17 |
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The 2025 Home Run Derby lineup is stacked with power hitters from across the league. Seattle Mariners slugger Cal Raleigh leads the field with 38 homers, while Washington Nationals young star James Wood (24 HRs) and Tampa Bay Rays phenom Junior Caminero (23 HRs) bring youthful firepower. Veterans like Matt Olson (17 HRs) of the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (21 HRs) add proven muscle, while breakout stars like the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Oneil Cruz (16 HRs) and Brent Rooker (20 HRs) of the Athletics round out a deep group. New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (17 HRs) adds flair and pop to a Derby field that blends raw strength with electric upside.
2025 MLB Home Run Derby Winner Odds
| Player | Team | Position | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Raleigh | Mariners | Catcher | +300 |
| Oneil Cruz | Pirates | Outfielder | +330 |
| James Wood | Nationals | Outfielder | +400 |
| Byron Buxton | Twins | Outfielder | +850 |
| Matt Olson | Braves | First Baseman | +900 |
| Junior Caminero | Rays | Infielder | +950 |
| Brent Rooker | Athletics | Designated Hitter | +1000 |
| Jazz Chisholm Jr. | Yankees | Infielder | +1400 |
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The 2025 Home Run Derby odds spotlight Cal Raleigh as the favorite at +300, followed closely by Oneil Cruz (+330) and rising star James Wood (+400). Longshot value can be found with Byron Buxton (+850), Matt Olson (+900), and Junior Caminero (+950), all capable of heating up in a bracket-style format. Brent Rooker (+1000) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (+1400) round out the field, offering high-upside swings for bettors looking to cash in on a surprise run.
MLB Home Run Types of Bets
The Home Run Derby isn’t just about towering moonshots—it’s also one of the most creative betting events on the MLB calendar. Sportsbooks are offering a wide range of wager types this year, from outright winners to quirky prop bets that add a fun twist to each swing. Here’s a look at the types of bets you can place, based on the current market:
Outright Winner & Advancement Props
You can bet on who will win the Derby outright, but it doesn’t stop there. Other futures include:
- To Make the Finals
- To Make the Semifinals
- Name the Finalists
- Exact Result (predicting 1st and 2nd place finish)
These bets let you predict how far each slugger will go through the bracket.
First Round Performance Props
These props focus on how many homers each batter will hit in the opening round, including:
- Total HRs in Round 1
- To Hit X+ HRs (e.g., Over/Under 20.5 HRs)
Perfect for bettors who want to target strong round-one hitters without banking on a full-tournament win.
Swing & Pitch Props
Add a little fun with ultra-specific wagers like:
- First Swing to Be a Home Run
- Number of Pitches Thrown Before First HR
These high-variance props are ideal for bettors seeking big payouts or those who want to root for instant fireworks.
Derby Moonshots & Distance Specials
This section covers the biggest bombs of the night:
- Player to Hit Longest Home Run
- Longest Home Run Distance by Player
- Highest Exit Velocity HR
- Total Home Runs (Combined) – Over/Under 240.5 HRs
These bets highlight raw power and allow fans to back players based on distance rather than tournament results.
Whether you’re betting on performance, precision, or just pure pop, the 2025 Home Run Derby offers a lineup of wagering options as loaded as the field itself.
