Cal Raleigh Is Sidelined and His Derby Crown Won't See Philadelphia
Alright, M's fans, grab your favorite brew because I've got some news about one of our own that's gonna sting. That electric summer tradition, the Home Run Derby, is just around the corner, set for July 13th in Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. And our guy, last year's dinger king, Cal Raleigh? Yeah, he's probably not gonna be there to defend his crown. Our Big Dumper has been battling an injury-riddled first half. It's a real bummer for the Emerald City, knowing our catcher, who put on a clinic last year with those majestic blasts, won't get to launch bombs on that national stage. Nobody's been officially announced for the eight Derby spots yet, but with Cal's health issues, it's looking like he's out of the running. What a tough break for him!Philly's Dream Bash and Ohtani's Likely Pass
While we're all here feeling the sting for Cal, the rest of the baseball world is buzzing, dreaming up a wild Derby field. The talk in Philadelphia, of course, is all about their hometown heroes, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Both these powerful lefties are tearing it up, putting together All-Star-caliber first halves, and they're looking like strong contenders for reserve spots in the Midsummer Classic. Can you even imagine two of the Phillies' biggest names, guys who've built their legends around monster dingers, duking it out in front of their own screaming fans in their home ballpark? It'd be rare, we haven't seen two home team sluggers in the Derby since Justin Bour and Giancarlo Stanton did it in Miami in 2017. But Harper and Schwarber have history, too; Harper famously just barely edged out Schwarber in the 2018 finals. A rematch between those two longtime teammates, with a roaring Philadelphia crowd behind them, would be magnificent television.Trade on Every Game with Kalshi
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On the flip side, some massive names will likely skip the event. Shohei Ohtani, for example, is more likely chasing a Cy Young award this season, so we probably won't see him unleashing his monster power in the Derby this year either.The Big Amish and a Future Hall of Famer's Last Shot?
Beyond the potential Philly fireworks, there are some other absolute sluggers making serious noise out there. Take Nick Kurtz from the Athletics, for instance, nicknamed "The Big Amish." This dude's got an overabundance of power. He's owned the single longest homer in MLB in each of the past two seasons, including a ridiculous 493-foot blast back in September and a whopping 471-footer just last weekend. Prior to a recent Drake Baldwin blast on Tuesday, those were the longest. Kurtz, a childhood Phillies fan from nearby Lancaster, ranks fourth among AL first basemen in All-Star voting and looks like a near-lock to be added to the field as a sub. He’s an entertaining slugger to watch. Then there's the living legend himself, Mike Trout. The Angels' future Hall of Famer, three-time MVP, and soon-to-be 12-time All-Star has NEVER competed in the Derby. It's wild, like LeBron James never doing the dunk contest! This season, Trout's 2026 campaign has been a total rejuvenation, turning back time. He's playing center field every day, he's staying healthy, and he's putting up amazing numbers. He turns 35 in August, so this might be his most compelling opportunity to finally step into the Derby. Imagine the energy if he finally did it! So yeah, M's fans, it's a massive bummer our Dumper likely won't be dropping bombs in Philadelphia this summer. But here's hoping he heals up fast, shakes off those injuries, and gets back to launching them over the wall at T-Mobile Park for us. That's the real show we're always waiting for from our Mariners. Go M's!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.