Cal Raleigh Wins Home Run Derby, Making History
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, leading the MLB in home runs during the All-Star break, has claimed the title of Atlanta’s longball champion.
In a memorable showdown, Raleigh triumphed over Tampa Bay Rays’ rising star, Junior Kaminero, with a final score of 18-15 at the home run derby held at Trust Park on Monday night.
Raleigh, affectionately known as “Big Damper,” made history by becoming the first catcher to win this event in its 40-year history. He’s also the second Mariners player to achieve this, following Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., who was present to witness the moment.
Throughout the season, Raleigh has hit an impressive 38 home runs, and he celebrated his victory with his father, beaming with joy.
As the champion, Raleigh earned $1 million, while Kaminero, at only 22, became the youngest derby champion in history and took home $750,000 as the runner-up.
Interestingly, there was a bit of drama in the final round when a ball appeared to interfere with one of Kaminero’s home runs. Kaminero moved into a bonus round that required five home runs to win, but he was unable to keep up with Raleigh’s pace.
Raleigh had barely made it past the first round by the narrowest of margins, a mere inch separating him from elimination.
In the first round, both Raleigh and Athletics’ Brent Rooker showcased their power, each hitting 17 home runs. Raleigh’s longest shot was measured at 470.63 feet, just edging out Rooker’s 470.53 feet drive.
Among the exciting performances, Pittsburgh Pirates’ O’Neill Cruz stood out by hitting a jaw-dropping 513-foot home run, recorded at an exit speed exceeding 120 mph, a testament to his six-foot-seven stature.
Atlanta Braves’ star Matt Olson had a strong showing towards the end of his first round but couldn’t secure a place in the top four. That distinction went to Byron Buxton, who had a spectacular bonus round to reach the semifinals.
However, Buxton managed only seven home runs in the subsequent round, allowing Kaminero to easily surpass him.
Washington Nationals young talent James Wood scored a respectable 16 homers in the opening round. In contrast, New York Yankees’ infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. struggled to find his rhythm, ending with just three home runs.
