Emerging Nationals superstar James Wood has joined the field for the 2025 Home Run Derby, Major League Baseball announced on Thursday. Wood recently hit his one-year anniversary in the league, having debuted on July 1, 2024, and in just 165 career games, he has made a significant impact.
The 6-foot-7, left-handed Wood, 22, is currently hitting .283/.387/.547 (164 OPS+) with 22 home runs in 322 at-bats this season. Remarkably, 12 of his 22 home runs are classified as “no doubters” according to Baseball Savant.
Interestingly, in his career, Wood has only hit one home run at Truist Park in Atlanta, where the Derby will be held this year.
With the inclusion of Wood, Cal Raleigh, and Ronald Acuña Jr., we now know three of the eight participants in this year’s Derby.
HR leader Raleigh is in
Major League Baseball’s current home run leader, Cal Raleigh, the catcher for the Seattle Mariners, will also participate in the Derby. Raleigh expressed, “I’m excited to represent the Mariners and our fanbase at the Derby. It will be extra special for me getting to do it in Atlanta, where I spent a lot of time playing baseball as a kid.”
Raleigh has already hit 32 home runs this season, making history by being the first catcher to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star Break. He is just two homers away from matching his career high of 34 before the All-Star Game.
As for the competition for the title of home run champion this season, oddsmakers have Raleigh (+130) trailing only Aaron Judge (+100) for that honor, with Shohei Ohtani at +400.
Acuña Jr. feeling right at home
Ronald Acuña Jr., outfielder for the Braves, was the first player to declare for this year’s Derby, announcing it shortly before facing the Mets.
He shared through an interpreter on ESPN, “I’m Ronald Acuña Jr. because of them,” referring to his home crowd.
Acuña, now 27, has previously competed in two Derbies, in 2019 and 2022, and was eliminated by Pete Alonso both times. He had stated he would participate again if the league extended the invitation.
In 29 games since returning from a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season, Acuña has performed impressively, hitting .385/.496/.692 with nine home runs and four stolen bases. Although he doesn’t lead the Braves in home runs, he is undoubtedly the most prominent star on the roster.
