Mariners' Cal Raleigh Enters 2025 MLB HR Derby, Leads All Players with 32

Major League Baseball's current home run leader is set to compete in the 2025 Home Run Derby next month in Atlanta.

MLB announced Friday on X that Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has officially declared himself for the Derby:

Raleigh has been one of the best power-hitting catchers in the league for the past few seasons, but he has taken his game to a new level thus far in 2025, as he leads all Major Leaguers in homers (32) and RBI (69).

Since first getting called up to the big leagues in 2021, Raleigh has set new career highs in home runs and RBI each year, and he is well on his way to doing it again in 2025.

Raleigh finished with 27 homers and 63 RBI in 2022, 30 homers and 75 RBI in 2023, and 34 homers and 100 RBI in 2024. Despite that, Raleigh has yet to be named an All-Star in his career.

That is likely due primarily to his low batting average, as he hit a collective .218 with a .296 on-base percentage over his first four seasons.

While Raleigh's power production this season has been spectacular, the most impressive aspect of his game has been his improvement as an all-around hitter.

Entering play Friday, Raleigh is slashing .275/.380/.651, all of which are career bests by a significant margin.

Because of those numbers, Raleigh is not only a surefire All-Star, but he is also in the thick of the American League MVP race with the New York Yankees slugger and reigning MVP Aaron Judge.

Judge is likely in the driver's seat right now thanks to his .361/.461/.719 slash line, but his 28 home runs and 63 RBI are lagging behind Raleigh right now.

While Raleigh is set to make his Home Run Derby debut this year, he will be joined by a familiar face in Home Run Derby veteran Ronald Acuña Jr.

Acuña, who was the first participant announced for the 2025 Derby, competed in the 2019 and 2020 events.

The 2023 National League MVP missed the start of the 2025 season due to injury, but he has been a force in 31 games since returning, slashing .369/.485/.658 with nine home runs and 18 RBI.

Acuña will represent the hometown Atlanta Braves in the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park on July 14.

If Raleigh is victorious at the 2025 Home Run Derby, he will join three-time winner and Baseball Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. as the second different Mariners player to win the event.