“Big Dumper” Raleigh Steals the Derby Crown in Nail-Biter
Last night in Atlanta, the MLB Home Run Derby delivered everything we crave: towering blasts, unexpected drama, and a surprise champion who’ll go down in history. Here’s how it all went down in Truist Park:
Champion of Champions: Cal Raleigh
Seattle’s towering catcher Cal Raleigh, nicknamed “Big Dumper,” took the crown—and made a bit of history while he was at it. In the final, he crushed 18 homers, edging out Junior Caminero’s 15 to become the first catcher to ever win the Derby. He finished with a total of 54 bombs over three rounds—17 in Round One (advancing via the tiebreaker by just 0.08 ft!), 19 in the semis, and 18 in the final.
Bonus story: His dad pitched the bombs, and his younger brother caught them—pure family flair that stole the spotlight too Lookout Landing.
Derby Drama & Distance Deciders
Tensions flared early when Raleigh and Brent Rooker tied at 17 HRs in Round One. Raleigh advanced thanks to a Statcast-measured longest homer of 470.62 ft, just an inch longer than Rooker’s 470.53 ft. Rooker, thinking a swing-off was coming, was caught off guard—and raised questions about the fairness of tiebreak measurement.
Notable Moments & Performances
- Oneil Cruz thundered a 513-foot bomb, the longest of the night, before bowing out in the semis
- Young standout Junior Caminero topped Round One with 21 home runs, battled Raleigh in the final, and came up just short—his future’s looking bright
- Byron Buxton and Matt Olson also had memorable bursts, though neither could match the top contenders
Final Takeaways
- Cal Raleigh’s swing is tailor-made for the Derby—high launch angle, pull power, switch-hitting versatility—just what the contest demands .
- The Derby’s new format—timed rounds, bonus periods, and closeness-based tiebreakers—continues to produce spectacular showdowns… and narrowly decided outcomes.
- For Mariners fans, it’s a double celebration: Raleigh is on a tear and could seriously threaten catcher home run records. Plus, he’ll bat cleanup for the American League in tonight’s All-Star Game