Brent Rooker, Athletics slugger, announced on Instagram Thursday that he’ll compete in the 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby. This year’s contest and All-Star game will take place at Truist Park, Home of the Atlanta Braves. The 30-year-old, a two-time All-Star, strengthens an electrifying eight-player field for the MLB All-Star Week event, airing live on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET on July 14. MLB.com confirmed Rooker’s entry, leaving one last spot open in a competition showcasing baseball’s top power hitters.
Brent Rooker announced on Instagram he’ll participate in the @TMobile #HRDerby!
The @Athletics slugger is on pace for his third straight 30+ HR season. pic.twitter.com/7ZddQjMQp1
— MLB (@MLB) July 10, 2025
Rooker’s Power Surge
Rooker, on pace for a third straight 30-homer season, boasts a .270 average, 19 homers, 42 RBIs, and a .362 wOBA through 82 games in 2025. After early career stops with the Twins, Padres, and Royals, the 30-year-old found stardom with the Athletics, earning a 2024 Silver Slugger and signing a five-year, $60 million extension in February 2025. His 91.5 mph average exit velocity (92nd percentile) and 14.3% barrel rate (93rd percentile), according to Baseball Savant, highlight his elite power, with a maximum exit velocity of 116.7 mph on a 452-foot home run against the Angels on June 15. Rooker’s improved plate discipline enhances his Derby fit, where timing and contact are key. “It’s a fun time,” he told MLB.com before his announcement. “I’d love to do it and show what I can do in Atlanta.”
Brent Rooker slugs his 19th home run of the season 🚀 pic.twitter.com/gUdJFtGJo3
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2025
Loaded Derby Lineup
Meanwhile, Rooker joins Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Seattle’s Cal Raleigh, Washington’s James Wood, Pittsburgh’s Oniel Cruz, Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero. Acuña, a hometown favorite, hit a 467-foot homer this year. Raleigh leads MLB with 36 homers. Cruz owns a 122.9 mph blast, the hardest hit ball in Statcast history, while Caminero projects 40 homers. Buxton and Wood add 20 and 24 homers, respectively. Although Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Pete Alonso opted out, per Yahoo Sports, the field’s star power shines.
Some stats on Ronald Acuña Jr.’s home run:
115.5 MPH off the bat
467 feet
1 EPIC moment pic.twitter.com/37sciD7eFl— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2025
High-Octane Showdown
This lineup dazzles with elite stats: Oniel Cruz’s 100th-percentile bat speed and Ronald Acuña Jr.’s 94th-percentile barrel rate shine. Cal Raleigh’s 90th-percentile bat speed and 36 MLB-leading homers add power. James Wood’s .939 OPS and Junior Caminero’s 40-homer pace bring youthful excitement, while Byron Buxton’s 94th-percentile hard-hit% fuels his 20 homers. The 2025 format demands stamina and precision, perfectly suiting Brent Rooker’s 91.5 mph exit velocity. Speculation swirls around Matt Olson for the final spot, per MLB Trade Rumors. Fans await the last name for this explosive Atlanta showdown.
Main Photo Credits: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
