Santo Domingo. — Dominican shortstop Oneil Cruz, known for his impressive power at the plate, has been confirmed as one of the participants in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby 2025.
This event, which is part of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game festivities, will take place next Monday at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Cruz, known for his spectacular batting practices, will debut on this prestigious mid-season baseball stage.
With an average exit velocity of 96.1 miles per hour, the highest in the Majors, and a home run of 122.9 mph recorded on May 25 — the strongest since 2015 — the Pirates’ slugger promises a memorable show.
To date, Cruz has hit 15 home runs and stolen 28 bases this season, shaping up as a candidate to achieve a 30-30 campaign. In addition, he leads MLB with six of the 10 fastest batted balls of the year, all over 118 mph.
The Dominican player becomes the first Pirates representative to participate in the Derby since Josh Bell in 2019, and the sixth in franchise history, joining legends like Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla and Pedro Álvarez.
No Pittsburgh player has made it past the first round, making Cruz a great hope to change that history.
Other confirmed participants for the event are Ronald Acuña Jr., Cal Raleigh, James Wood, and Byron Buxton, promising an edition full of emotions and spectacular hits.
