No Pete Alonso, no problem. The 2025 Home Run Derby got a massive power boost Tuesday when Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz was announced for the event.
Cruz will join a suddenly stacked group of power hitters at the event — which includes Cal Raleigh, James Wood, Byron Buxton and Ronald Acuña Jr.
While Raleigh leads MLB in home runs, and Acuña has Derby experience, Cruz might have the best skill set to excel at the event. Cruz, 26, is a Statcast darling, and ranks in the 100th percentile in bat speed, average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit percentage. Cruz also owns the record for hardest-hit ball recorded by Statcast. He set that record during a May 25 game vs. the Brewers when he belted a 122.9 mph home run into the Allegheny River. The hit surpassed the previous record of 122.4 mph, which was also held by Cruz. Simply put, his swing and approach are built for success at the Home Run Derby.
Despite his immense power, Cruz hasn’t reached his full potential as a hitter yet. He’s slashing just .203/.315/.402 over 343 plate appearances.
Cruz is the least accomplished player to enter the 20225 Derby. Of the five players confirmed for the event, he’s the only one whose never made an All-Star Game. Both Raleigh and Wood were in the same position prior to Sunday, when Wood was announced as a reserve. Raleigh had previously been announced as a starter at the game.
While three other spots are still up for grabs, the 2025 Home Run Derby should be a wide-open field. A number of talented power hitters have already dropped out of the event, including Alonso — a two-time winner — and Teoscar Hernandez, last year’s winner. Aaron Judge also said he would not take part in the event.
Those absences might serve as a disappointment for some, but they also guarantee a new winner will be crowned. They also ensure MLB will get to show off some of its young, powerful stars, especially now that Cruz and Wood are both on board.
