Cal Raleigh victorious in 2025 Home Run Derby, becomes 1st catcher ever to win in thrilling fashion

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Cal Raleigh, the Seattle Mariners slugger who is MLB's leader in home runs at the All-Star break, is the long ball king in Atlanta. 

And he made history in the process.

Raleigh beat Tampa Bay Rays budding star Junior Caminero, 18-15, in the final round to win the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park on Monday night to kick off All-Star festivities. 

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Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) during the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park. (Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

"Big Dumper," as he’s affectionately known, is the first catcher to ever win the event since it began four decades ago. Raleigh is also the second Mariners player to ever win, as Ken Griffey Jr., the Hall of Famer who was in the dugout watching, was the only one before this performance. 

Raleigh, who has belted 38 homers in what has become his breakout season for the Mariners, was all smiles as he and his father, who pitched to him throughout the contest, celebrated the victory. 

As victor, Raleigh also gets $1 million from MLB, while Caminero, who stood to be the youngest Derby champion of all time at 22 years old, gets $750,000 as runner-up. 

There was a moment in the final round, too, where it appeared there might have been some controversy, as one of the ball boys shagging the non-home run balls in the outfield seemingly robbed a Caminero home run. 

Caminero entered the bonus round needing five home runs to win, but he didn't get close as he hit too many in play for the Raleigh victory. 

But Raleigh almost didn’t make it out of the first round, as he made it by literally an inch. 

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero