Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Oneil Cruz announced he is going to compete in the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park on Monday, July 14.
Cruz is the seventh Pirates player to enter the event and first since Josh Bell in 2019. The rest of the Pirates’ group includes Bobby Bonilla (1990), Barry Bonds (1992), Jason Bay (2005), Andrew McCutchen (2012) and Pedro Álvarez (2013).
No Pirates player has ever advanced past the first round of the Home Run Derby.
Cruz was invited to take swings in last year’s event, but declined due to it being his first season back from left ankle surgery.
The 26-year-old did not earn an All-Star Game this year selection but nevertheless is having a solid season. He leads the Pirates with 16 home runs and 28 stolen bases, putting him on track to join Bonds as the only players in franchise history to post a 30-30 campaign.
Cruz is also an ideal candidate for the Home Run Derby as he leads the Majors with an average exit velocity of 96.1 mph. His home run against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 25 had an exit velocity of 122.9 mph, which is the hardest-hit ball since Statcast began tracking in 2015.
The 2025 Home Run Derby field is now more than halfway to being complete. The group won’t include defending champion Teoscar Hernández, who passed on the opportunity to repeat in the interest of health and focusing on the second half of the season.
Shohei Ohtani and Elly De La Cruz also declined to participate this year. Ohtani cited the Home Run Derby format and his return to pitching as the reasons behind his decision.
Who is participating in the 2025 Home Run Derby?
In addition to Cruz, the confirmed participants for this year’s Home Run Derby are Ronald Acuña Jr. of the host Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners All-Star Cal Raleigh, James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins star Byron Buxton, and Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Home Run Derby participants are going to wear special event jerseys that pay tribute to Babe Ruth (American League) and Hank Aaron (National League).
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