Cal Raleigh Is About To Defend His Derby Title, And MLB Just Gave Him A Wild New Rulebook
Alright, M's fans, listen up! The Home Run Derby is about to get a serious shake-up, and you know who's right in the middle of it? Our very own Cal Raleigh, the reigning champion! MLB is making a massive U-turn, ditching that clock and going back to pure swings for the annual power display. This is huge, with the event set for July 13th in Philadelphia. Our Big Dumper won't race against time, he'll just mash dingers until he's out of swings. Get ready!
No More Clock, Just Crushing Bombs
Baseball, famously without a clock, embraced time in recent years. The Home Run Derby introduced a clock in 2015, starting with five minutes per turn. Approaching inclement weather forced a reduction to four minutes, which then became permanent in 2016. While a pitch clock, introduced in 2023, speeds up actual game times, the Derby felt different with a timer.
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Now, this season's eight-person competition is all about swings! Competitors get 20 swings in the first round. Hit a homer on your final swing? You keep going until a swing doesn't produce one. Rounds two and three are down to 15 swings. The first round cuts the field to four, setting up a bracket: top slugger faces the one who hit fourth most, and the second and third finishers duel. Winners meet in the finals. This is a game changer for Cal, who can truly focus on connecting with the ball.
Big Dumper's Reign Goes Global
Our catcher, Cal Raleigh, absolutely crushed it to win the 2025 Home Run Derby at Truist Park. He was on fire, bringing that trophy back to Seattle. Now, he's got a chance to defend his title under these old-school, yet fresh, new rules. It's a different kind of challenge, but if anyone can adjust, it's Big Dumper.
And get this, the Home Run Derby is moving channels! After a long run on ESPN, Netflix broadcasts the event for the first time this season. Your Derby watch party might be a streaming party! This huge shift brings more eyes to the biggest power display. It will be cool to see how they handle it, especially with our defending champ rocking Mariners colors. Dave Parker won the first Derby in 1985, setting the stage for what Cal achieved.
So, while our Mariners are out there grinding in the regular season, grabbing solid wins like yesterday's 3-0 shutout against the Baltimore Orioles, we've got our eyes on July 13th. Cal Raleigh, defending champion, new rules, Netflix. It’s going to be a wild night in Philly, and you KNOW we’ll be rooting for our guy to bring home another title. Get ready, Big Dumper is about to put on a show!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.